The productive psychotic syndrome in first episode schizophrenic patients is associated with a striatal hyperdopaminergic state: Evidence from Dual-Isotope-SPECT Imaging

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of dual isotope SPECT imaging to associate striatal dopaminergic transmission with the core symptoms of the acute psychotic syndrome in first episode, drug-naive schizophrenic patients. Methods: 20 acutely ill, drug naive inpatients with a first acute schizophrenic episode and 12 age-matched control subjects underwent the study. A dual-isotope SPECT protocol using combined application of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 and [123I]IBZM was performed. Psychopathology was assessed by specific scales including PANSS. Results: A clear and significantly inverse co…