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Race and platelet MAO activity in schizophrenic patients
337
Psychiatry Research. 26,337 Elsevier
Letter Race and Platelet MAO Activity Schizophrenic Patients
in
To the Editors: Morgenstern et al. (1988) reported that platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was significantly lower in black schizophrenic patients treated with neuroleptic drugs than in white schizophrenic patients also treated with neuroleptics. They stated that there are no other published data relevant to this issue and suggested that this might be a drug-race interaction. We have, in fact, reported that there was no significant difference in platelet MAO activity in unmedicated male or female black vs. white schizophrenic patients (Meltzer and Zureick, 1987). However, we did find some complex interactions between race, subtype of schizophrenia, symptoms, and platelet MAO activity. Thus, black paranoid schizophrenics with auditory hallucinations had lower platelet MAO activity than did white patients of the same type. This difference was not found in undifferentiated schizophrenic patients. On the other hand, white male paranoid schizophrenics had significantly lower platelet MAO activity than did black male paranoid schizophrenics. No such difference was noted in females.
We agree with Morgenstern et al. (1987) that future studies of platelet MAO activity should consider racial effects. References Meltzer, H.Y., and Zureick, J.L. Relationship of auditory hallucinations and paranoia to platelet MAO activity in schizophrenics: Sex and race interactions. Psychiatry Research, 22,99 ( 1987). Morgenstern, H., Hafez, H.M., Glazer, W.M., Giller, E., Jr., and Zahner, G. Platelet monoamine oxidase activity and tardive dyskinesia. Psychiatry Research, 25, I63 ( 1988). Herbert Y. Meltzer. M.D. Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 2040 Abington Rd. Cleveland, OH 44106, USA October IO. 1988
Announcement The International Psychogeriatric Association is pleased to announce the creation of a new, biennial Research Award in psychogeriatrics. This award, which is sponsored by Bayer AC, will be offered every 2 years for presentation and recognition at each IPA International Congress. The award will be given for the best original research paper in the field of psychogeriatrics. Any unpublished, original research paper in English will be considered. All papers should be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 250 words. The 1989 award shall consist of (I) travel and accommodations expenses for presentation of the paper at the Fourth Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association in Tokyo, Japan, September 5-8, 1989;
(2) a plaque; (3) a cash award to cover expenses during the Congress; (4) an opportunity to publish the paper in the IPA’s new journal, International Psychogeriatrics, which will begin publication early in 1989. Selection of the award-winning contribution will be by an international committee: M. Bergener, FRG; G. Cohen, USA; S. Finkel, USA; K. Hasegawa, Japan; T. Nishimura, Japan; B. Reisberg, USA; G.P. Vecchi, Italy; and a Bayer AG representative. Eight copies of the paper and abstract must be submitted no later than March I, 1989, to Barry Reisberg, M.D., Aging and Dementia Research Program, NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA. The awardee will be notified by June I, 1989.
Psychiatry Research. 26,337 Elsevier
Letter Race and Platelet MAO Activity Schizophrenic Patients
in
To the Editors: Morgenstern et al. (1988) reported that platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was significantly lower in black schizophrenic patients treated with neuroleptic drugs than in white schizophrenic patients also treated with neuroleptics. They stated that there are no other published data relevant to this issue and suggested that this might be a drug-race interaction. We have, in fact, reported that there was no significant difference in platelet MAO activity in unmedicated male or female black vs. white schizophrenic patients (Meltzer and Zureick, 1987). However, we did find some complex interactions between race, subtype of schizophrenia, symptoms, and platelet MAO activity. Thus, black paranoid schizophrenics with auditory hallucinations had lower platelet MAO activity than did white patients of the same type. This difference was not found in undifferentiated schizophrenic patients. On the other hand, white male paranoid schizophrenics had significantly lower platelet MAO activity than did black male paranoid schizophrenics. No such difference was noted in females.
We agree with Morgenstern et al. (1987) that future studies of platelet MAO activity should consider racial effects. References Meltzer, H.Y., and Zureick, J.L. Relationship of auditory hallucinations and paranoia to platelet MAO activity in schizophrenics: Sex and race interactions. Psychiatry Research, 22,99 ( 1987). Morgenstern, H., Hafez, H.M., Glazer, W.M., Giller, E., Jr., and Zahner, G. Platelet monoamine oxidase activity and tardive dyskinesia. Psychiatry Research, 25, I63 ( 1988). Herbert Y. Meltzer. M.D. Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 2040 Abington Rd. Cleveland, OH 44106, USA October IO. 1988
Announcement The International Psychogeriatric Association is pleased to announce the creation of a new, biennial Research Award in psychogeriatrics. This award, which is sponsored by Bayer AC, will be offered every 2 years for presentation and recognition at each IPA International Congress. The award will be given for the best original research paper in the field of psychogeriatrics. Any unpublished, original research paper in English will be considered. All papers should be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 250 words. The 1989 award shall consist of (I) travel and accommodations expenses for presentation of the paper at the Fourth Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association in Tokyo, Japan, September 5-8, 1989;
(2) a plaque; (3) a cash award to cover expenses during the Congress; (4) an opportunity to publish the paper in the IPA’s new journal, International Psychogeriatrics, which will begin publication early in 1989. Selection of the award-winning contribution will be by an international committee: M. Bergener, FRG; G. Cohen, USA; S. Finkel, USA; K. Hasegawa, Japan; T. Nishimura, Japan; B. Reisberg, USA; G.P. Vecchi, Italy; and a Bayer AG representative. Eight copies of the paper and abstract must be submitted no later than March I, 1989, to Barry Reisberg, M.D., Aging and Dementia Research Program, NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA. The awardee will be notified by June I, 1989.