D-serine and glycine serum levels in relation to negative symptoms: NMDA receptor dysfunction in pathogenesis of schizophrenia
Abstract
The main objective of our study was to test the hypothesis of the association between D-serine and glycine serum levels and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Secondary objective was to examine the assumption of D-serine and glycine serum levels differences between a population of mostly chronic patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. 50 outpatients with schizophrenia diagnosed in agreement with the ICD-10 (Diagnostic criteria for research) and 50 age and gender matched healthy control subjects were recruited into the study.
D-serine and glycine serum levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in all subjects. Positive and Negative Syndrom Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were used to assess the symptoms of schizophrenia in the patients.