The Catecholamines in Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders

The Catecholamines in Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders focuses on the contributions of catecholamines (CA) in the modulation of blood pressure, stress and exercise, body movements, memory, learning, emotions, thought processing, appetite, and mediation of psychotropic drug action. The selection first elaborates on the techniques for the assessment and interpretation of catecholamine measurements in neuropsychiatric patients and catecholaminergic response to stress and exercise. Discussions focus on noradrenergic response to isometric exercise, isotonic exercise, effect of acceleration on sympathetic activity, techniques for sympathetic nervous system evaluation, and measurements of CA and their metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid. The text then takes a look at urinary CA in behavioral research on stress; CA in anxiety disorders and mitral valve prolapse; and interaction with neurotransmitters in normal subjects and in patients with selected neurologic diseases. The selection examines noradrenergic responses in postural hypotension, norepinephrine, alcohol, and alcoholism, and catecholamine metabolism in anorexia nervosa. Topics include cerebral catecholamine metabolism in anorexia nervosa; central nervous system norepinephrine and voluntary alcohol drinking; and overview of norepinephrine in selected pediatric disorders. The book is a dependable reference for neuropsychiatrists and readers interested in the contributions of catecholamines on psychiatric disorders.

Contributing AuthorsForewordPreface 1. Techniques for the Assessment and Interpretation of Catecholamine Measurements in Neuropsychiatric Patients Catecholamine Assay Techniques Techniques for Sympathetic Nervous System Evaluation Conjugated Catecholamines The Neurologic Basis for Changes in Plasma Catecholamines Measurements of Catecholamines and Their Metabolites in Cerebrospinal Fluid Cerebrospinal Fluid Catecholamines in Some Neuropsychiatric DiseasesI. Stress 2. The Catecholaminergic Response to Stress and Exercise Age and Sympathetic Activity Blood Sampling Effect of Acceleration on Sympathetic Activity Sympathetic Response to Acceleration Greater than 1G The Noradrenergic Response to Isometric Exercise Isotonic Exercise Conclusions 3. Urinary Catecholamines in Behavioral Research on Stress Relationship Between Epinephrine and Norepinephrine Methodologic Aspects of Catecholamine Assessment Consistency in Catecholamine Excretion Factors Affecting Catecholamine Excretion Catecholamines and Health Clinical Application ConclusionsII. Neuropsychiatric Disorders 4. Catecholamines in Anxiety Disorders and Mitral Valve Prolapse Catecholamines in Anxiety Disorders Mitral Valve Prolapse Conclusions 5. Central Catecholamine Systems: Interaction with Neurotransmitters in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Selected Neurologic Diseases Neurotransmitters Related to Norepinephrine in the Basal Ganglia Epinephrine Systems Dopamine Systems Interaction of Dopamine and Norepinephrine Striatonigral Pathways Serotonin Cells Peptide Neurons Neurochemical Changes in Clinical Conditions Conclusions 6. Noradrenergic Responses in Postural Hypotension: Implications for Therapy Mechanisms of Postural Blood Pressure Maintenance Diagnosis of the Systemic Defect Causing Postural Hypotension Postural Hypotension in Diabetics Therapy of Postural Hypotension Approach to the Patient with Postural Hypotension 7. Norepinephrine, Alcohol, and Alcoholism Effects of Alcohol on Brain Norepinephrine Human Studies Central Nervous System Norepinephrine and Voluntary Alcohol Drinking Conclusions 8. Catecholamine Metabolism in Anorexia Nervosa Peripheral Catecholamine Metabolism in Anorexia Nervosa Cerebral Catecholamine Metabolism in Anorexia Nervosa ConclusionsIII. Pediatric Disorders and the Catecholamines 9. Overview of Norepinephrine in Selected Pediatric Disorders Childhood Schizophrenia and Infantile Autism Childhood Enuresis Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome Juvenile Diabetes Dystonia Musculorum Deformans Familial Dysautonomia Duchenne Type Muscular Dystrophy Cystic Fibrosis Reye's Syndrome Down's Syndrome Migraine 10. Catecholamine Metabolism in Hyperactive Children Direct Biochemical Studies Pharmacokinetic-Behavioral Studies Pharmacologie, Clinical, and Biochemical Responses Future DirectionsIV. Affective Disorders and the Catecholamines 11. Norepinephrine in the Affective Disorders: Classic Biochemical Approaches Methodologic Issues Clinical Studies Antedating Measures of Norepinephrine Clinical Studies of Norepinephrine Conclusions 12.