CSF amine metabolites, clinical symptoms, and body movement in psychiatric patients.

The relationships between CSF monoamine metabolites (HVA and 5HIAA), nurses' ratings of clinical symptoms, and telemetered measures of motor movement of ten schizophrenic and ten depressed patients were investigated. There was a significant negative correlation between CSF 5HIAA and both agitation ratings and motor movement in the schizophrenics. CSF HVA correlated positively to anxiety and anger in the depressives. The schizophrenics had a significantly higher CSF HVA than the depressives which appeared unrelated to motor movement. The effects of serotonin turnover and arousal in schizophrenia and the association between CSF metabolite gradients, stress, motor movement, and biogenic amine levels in depression are discussed.