May Salivary Alpha-Amylase Level Be a Useful Tool for Assessment of the Severity of Schizophrenia and Evaluation of Therapy? A Case Report. (30th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ieda, Masa; Miyaoka, Tsuyoshi; Kawano, Kiminori; Wake, Rei; Inagaki, Takuji; Horiguchi, Jun
• Other Names: De Leo D. Academic Editor.; Nakamura J. Academic Editor.; Noordsy D. L. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in psychiatry. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-09-30
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders; Psychiatry; Psychiatry; Periodicals; Case studies; Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/747104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-682X

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Previous studies suggested dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in schizophrenia patients, but the mechanism remains unclear. Recently, the measurement of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) has been considered a useful tool for evaluating ANS, especially the sympathoadrenal medullary system. Furthermore, there was a report that patients with schizophrenia showed much higher sAA level than normal controls. Methods . We present the case of a 51-year-old female with catatonic schizophrenia. She needed the treatment of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We evaluated her sAA level and her psychiatric symptoms during the treatment. Results . Before ECT treatment, she showed high sAA level. Her sAA level decreased during the course of ECT, and this attenuation was accompanied by improvement of schizophrenic symptoms. Conclusion . We consider that measurement of the sAA level may be one of the useful biological markers for assessment of psychotic state and efficacy of treatment in patients with schizophrenia.