Nocturnal growth hormone secretion in schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects

René S. Kahn*, Michael Davidson, Jack Hirschowitz, Robert G. Stern, Bonnie M. David, Steve Gabriel, Clare Moore, Kenneth L. Davis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Plasma growth hormone concentrations were measured at hourly intervals between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. the next morning in 15 drug-free chronic schizophrenic male inpatients and 14 healthy males. Growth hormone secretion was significantly lower in the patients as compared with the controls. Growth hormone release peaked around 1 a.m. in the controls, but a growth hormone peak was absent in the patient group. Increased dopamine activity, increased serotonin activity, or both could explain the absence of a nocturnal growth hormone surge in the schizophrenic patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-161
Number of pages7
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume41
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1992
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Mental HealthR01MH037922

    Keywords

    • Psychoendocrinology
    • dopamine
    • hormones
    • serotonin

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