Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

In vivo effects on striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding by the novel atypical antipsychotic drug sertindole – a 123I IBZM single photon emission tomography (SPET) study

  • ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The novel antipsychotic drug sertindole has an atypical pharmacological profile. We have estimated striatal D2 dopamine binding in schizophrenic patients treated with sertindole using 123I iodobenzamide (IBZM) SPET. Patients were recruited from a clinical trial of sertindole’s tolerability and efficacy. Striatal D2 binding in sertindole-treated patients (n = 5), was compared with previously reported data from clozapine (n = 10); olanzapine (n = 6); typical antipsychotic responsive (n = 10); and risperidone (n = 6)-treated groups. Mean PANSS (structured clinical interview for the positive and negative syndrome scale) scores showed clinical improvement in the sertindole group. Few extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) were recorded [average Simpson-Angus (SAS) score = 2.6]. Sertindole-treated patients had mean D2 binding indices (± SE) significantly lower than clozapine-treated patients (1.19 ± 0.04) versus (1.49 ± 0.04), and olanzapine-treated patients (1.41 ± 0.06); and similar to those of risperidone (1.24 ± 0.04) and typical antipsychotic responsive (1.25 ± 0.05) treated patients. In this patient sample the preliminary evidence suggests that sertindole’s decreased tendency to induce EPS at clinically therapeutic doses is not due to limited occupancy of striatal D2 receptors in vivo, and as is the case for risperidone, patients are protected from EPS by some other intrinsic effect of the drug.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 24 June 1996/Final version: 20 October 1996

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pilowsky, L., O’Connell, P., Davies, N. et al. In vivo effects on striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding by the novel atypical antipsychotic drug sertindole – a 123I IBZM single photon emission tomography (SPET) study. Psychopharmacology 130, 152–158 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050223

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050223

Navigation