THE RESPONSE OF LYMPHOCYTE BETA-ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS TO CHRONIC PROPRANOL TREATMENT IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS, SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS, AND NORMAL CONTROLS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (5) , 553-560
Abstract
The ability of .beta.-adrenergic receptors to adapt to reductions in stimulation might be impaired in depressed or schizophrenic patients. To test this hypothesis, 12 normal controls, 12 depressed patients resistant to tricyclic antidepressants, and 8 chronic schizophrenic patients were treated with propranolol 160 mg/day for 10 days. This dose regimen previously led to a rise in lymphocyte .beta.-adrenergic receptors in normal volunteers. Blood was sampled before propranolol treatment and 60 h after the last propranolol dose. There were no significant differences between any of the groups in lymphocyte .beta.-adrenergic receptors after 10 days of propranolol treatment.