Biomaterial Database

Plasma GABA levels in psychiatric illness. 1984

F Petty, and A D Sherman

In two separate studies, we have obtained plasma levels of GABA in 134 psychiatric patients and 22 normal controls. Patients with a unipolar affective disorder had levels significantly lower than control (n = 58) as did patients with alcoholism (n = 10). Patients with a bipolar affective disorder had levels significantly higher than control when manic (n = 28) and also when euthymic on lithium prophylaxis (n = 17), but levels in the control range when depressed (n = 4). Patients with schizophrenia demonstrated a high degree of variability in their levels of plasma GABA but were not statistically different from control (n = 36). Patients with unipolar depression who received a dexamethasone suppression test had no correlation between nonsuppression of cortisol secretion and plasma levels of GABA. Diagnostic and research implication of plasma GABA in psychiatric illness are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008094	Lithium	An element in the alkali metals family. It has the atomic symbol Li, atomic number 3, and atomic weight [6.938; 6.997]. Salts of lithium are used in treating BIPOLAR DISORDER.	Lithium-7,Lithium 7
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D005680	gamma-Aminobutyric Acid	The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.	4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000437	Alcoholism	A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4)	Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D001523	Mental Disorders	Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function.	Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders
D001714	Bipolar Disorder	A major affective disorder marked by severe mood swings (manic or major depressive episodes) and a tendency to remission and recurrence.	Affective Psychosis, Bipolar,Bipolar Disorder Type 1,Bipolar Disorder Type 2,Bipolar Mood Disorder,Depression, Bipolar,Manic Depression,Manic Disorder,Manic-Depressive Psychosis,Psychosis, Manic-Depressive,Type 1 Bipolar Disorder,Type 2 Bipolar Disorder,Psychoses, Manic-Depressive,Bipolar Affective Psychosis,Bipolar Depression,Bipolar Disorders,Bipolar Mood Disorders,Depression, Manic,Depressions, Manic,Disorder, Bipolar,Disorder, Bipolar Mood,Disorder, Manic,Manic Depressive Psychosis,Manic Disorders,Mood Disorder, Bipolar,Psychoses, Bipolar Affective,Psychoses, Manic Depressive,Psychosis, Bipolar Affective,Psychosis, Manic Depressive
D012559	Schizophrenia	A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior.	Dementia Praecox,Schizophrenic Disorders,Disorder, Schizophrenic,Disorders, Schizophrenic,Schizophrenias,Schizophrenic Disorder