Neuroleptic-induced supersensitivity psychosis: clinical and pharmacologic characteristics

Abstract

Tardive dyskinesia is thought to result from neostriatal dopaminergic receptor supersensitivity induced by chronic treatment with neuroleptics. The authors suggest that dopaminergic supersensitivity also occurs in the mesolimbic region after chronic neuroleptic exposure, resulting in the development of a supersensitivity psychosis. Neuroleptic-induced supersensitivity psychosis is illustrated by data from 10 patients that demonstrate the syndrome's clinical and pharmacologic characteristics. An implication of neuroleptic-induced mesolimbic supersensitivity is that the tenaency toward psychotic relapse in such patients is determined by more than just the normal course of the illness.