Catecholamines and mania: The effect of alpha‐methyl‐para‐tyrosine on manic behavior and catecholamine metabolism

Abstract

Alpha‐methyl‐para‐tyrosine (AMPT), an inhibitor of catecholamine biosynthesis, was given to 7 manic and 3 depressed patients under double‐blind conditions. Five of the 7 manic patients became less manic, while the three depressed patients became more depressed. Urinary excretion of catecholamine metabolites and dopamine was significantly decreased in all. These behavioral and biochemical changes confirm previous indirect evidence implicating catecholamines in affective disorders.