Increased Release of Dopamine in the Striata of Young Adults With Hearing Impairment and Its Relevance for the Social Defeat Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

Martin Gevonden*, Jan Booij, Wim van den Brink, Dennis Heijtel, Jim van Os, Jean-Paul Selten

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

IMPORTANCE An increased risk for psychosis is observed in people with hearing impairment. According to the social defeat hypothesis, the long-term experience of exclusion leads to enhanced baseline activity and/or sensitization of the dopamine system and puts the individual at increased risk for psychosis. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether young adults with severe hearing impairment (SHI) experience more feelings of social defeat, show greater dopamine release in response to dexamphetamine, and report a stronger subjective reaction to this substance than normal-hearing young adults and to examine whether dopamine release is associated with both self-reported social exclusion and dexamphetamine-induced psychotic experiences. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A sample of 19 participants with SHI and 19 smoking-, age-, and sex-matched healthy controls underwent single-photon emission computed tomography with iodine 123-labeled iodobenzamide as a radiotracer before and after an amphetamine challenge at an academic hospital. EXPOSURES Dexamphetamine sulfate (0.3mg/kg) administered intravenously. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Baseline D-2/3 receptor binding and endogenous dopamine release. RESULTS The participants with SHI reported experiencing more feelings of social defeat (U = 109, z = -2.09, P = .04) and loneliness (U = 87.5, z = -2.72, P =
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1364-1372
JournalJAMA Psychiatry
Volume71
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2014

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