Decreased Dopamine D2 Receptor Binding in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Schizophrenia

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Abstract
SCHIZOPHRENIA is believed to involve altered dopaminergic transmission. This is supported by the fact that long-term use of dopamine agonists such as amphetamine can cause psychotic symptoms and dopamine D2 receptor antagonists are the most widely used drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually subdivided into positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms such as hallucinatory behavior and unusual thought content are more effectively treated with D2 receptor blockers than are negative symptoms. The therapeutic potency of antipsychotic drugs correlates with the affinity for D2 receptors. These observations imply that D2 receptors are critically involved in the pathophysiology of positive symptoms.