Psychosis & Mania

Schizophrenia is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and affects approximately 1% of the population. It is characterized by positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, and negative symptoms such as incoherent speech, inattention, abnormal social behavior, lack of motivation and reduced sensorimotor function.

PowerPoint Presentation outlining additional validation data for Psychosis & Mania

The following tests have predictive validity for antipsychotic drugs:

  • Prepulse Inhibition of Startle
    The acoustic startle reflex is a very basic response to strong exteroceptive stimuli. It is widely used to assess sensorimotor reactivity in animals and humans.
    The Effect of Clozapine on Prepulse Inhibition of Startle
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  • Amphetamine/PCP-Induced Hyperlocomotion
    This test is used with the open field activity chambers and measures locomotion, rearing, and stereotypic activity under amphetamine/PCP induced conditions. The test has predictive validity for some anti-psychotic drugs that normalize the hyperactivity and stereotypic behavior seen with amphetamine and PCP.

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    Click here to see larger image.
  • Apomorphine Induced Climbing
    This test measures rearing, and climbing induced by Apomorphine. The test has predictive validity for anti-psychotic drugs that normalize the hyperactivity and stereotypic behavior.

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