Apomorphine effects on episodic memory in young healthy volunteers.

Rationale: Dopamine (DA) modulates working memory. However, the relation between DA systems and episodic (declarative) memory is less established. Frontal lobe DA function may be involved.

Response of the HPA-axis to alcohol and stress as a function of alcohol dependence and family history of alcoholism.

Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis has been observed in chronic alcoholics and in non-alcoholic sons of alcoholic parents, while genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, may play a significant role in the development of alcoholism. The present study was designed to investigate the response of the HPA-axis to alcohol and stress as a function of family history of alcoholism and chronic alcohol abuse. We determined changes in plasma adrenal corticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations in response to a placebo or an alcohol (0.

Levomepromazine versus chlorpromazine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a double-blind randomized trial.

Objective: We compared the effect of levomepromazine (LMP) with chlorpromazine (CPZ) in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS).

Methods: We carried out a double-blind, parallel group study (n = 19/arm) with balanced randomization in blocks of 4 and stratification by sex. Subjects entered a 30-week trial, of which phases I-III were open: phase I (wk 0-6) baseline; phase II (wk 7-9) stepwise transition to haloperidol (HAL), 30 mg/d, plus benztropine (BT), 4 mg/d; phase III (wk 10-15) HAL, 40-60 mg/d, plus BT, 4-6 mg/d; phase IV (wk 16-20) stepwise transition to LMP or CPZ (500 mg/d) following randomization; phase V (wk 21-28) stepwise increase of LMP or CPZ (600-1000 mg/d, dose reduction permitted) to establish optimum dose; and phase VI (wk 29-30) optimized dose maintained.

Differences in the peripheral levels of beta-endorphin in response to alcohol and stress as a function of alcohol dependence and family history of alcoholism.

Background: Evidence indicates that both genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, may play an important role for the development of alcoholism, while beta-endorphin may be implicated in the control of alcohol consumption. The objective of the present studies was to test the hypothesis that there are differences in the response of the pituitary beta-endorphin system to stress as a function of family history of alcoholism and alcohol dependence.

Methods: The response of the pituitary beta-endorphin to a placebo or an alcohol (0.

Levels and circadian rhythmicity of plasma ACTH, cortisol, and beta-endorphin as a function of family history of alcoholism.

Rationale: Individuals with a family history of alcoholism may present a dysfunction in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that predates the development of alcoholism.

Objective: The present study investigated the hypothesis that this HPA-axis dysfunction is associated with alterations in the pattern of the circadian (24 h) secretions of adrenal corticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and beta-endorphin.

Methods: Men with [high risk (HR)] or without [low risk (LR)] family history of alcoholism participated in the study.

Nicotine and behavioral markers of risk for schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

We investigated the effect of nicotine on three behavioral markers of risk for schizophrenia: sustained attention (using the Continuous Performance Task (CPT)), antisaccade performance, and smooth pursuit. Smooth pursuit was investigated in two conditions, one in which attention was enhanced (monitoring target changes) and one in which attention was not enhanced (no monitoring). Patients with schizophrenia (n = 15) and controls (n = 14) were given a 14-mg nicotine patch in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design and plasma nicotine concentrations were monitored.

Response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to stress in the absence and presence of ethanol in subjects at high and low risk of alcoholism.

Both genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, are important in determining alcohol consumption. Furthermore, both stress and alcohol influence the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis. Thus, the present studies investigated the response of the HPA axis to stress and the effect of ethanol on the stress response, in subjects at high (HR) and low (LR) risk of alcoholism as determined from their family history.

Differences in the responses of the pituitary beta-endorphin and cardiovascular system to ethanol and stress as a function of family history.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, are important for the initiation and maintenance of heavy drinking, whereas beta-endorphin may be important in controlling alcohol consumption. These studies investigated the response of pituitary beta-endorphin to stress and the effect of alcohol on the stress response in subjects at low (LR) and high (HR) risk of alcoholism, as determined from their family history.

Methods: Twenty LR and 20 HR subjects were exposed to stress 30 min after ingestion of either a placebo or an alcohol drink.