γ-Acetylenic GABA in Tardive Dyskinesia

Daniel E. Casey, Jes Gerlach, Gerhard Magelund, Torben Rosted Christensen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to play a role in the modulation of extrapyramidal motor function. The effects of increasing brain GABA with γ-acetylenic GABA (GAG), a drug that inhibits GABA transaminase, were evaluated in ten patients with stable tardive dyskinesia during a blind placebo-controlled trial. Drug effects during active treatment and two placebo periods were evaluated by scoring randomly sequenced videotapes of tardive dyskinesia and parkinsonian symptoms recorded weekly during a standardized examination. Tardive dyskinesia was significantly reduced, and preexisting parkinsonism increased slightly. The largest decrease in tardive dyskinesia symptoms occurred in patients receiving higher neuroleptic doses, suggesting an interaction between GABA and dopamine. Prolactin values increased but growth hormone values were unchanged. Psychiatric symptoms were also unchanged during GAG treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1376-1379
Number of pages4
JournalArchives of General Psychiatry
Volume37
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1980
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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