Drug-induced psychomimetic symptoms as a model for psychosis

Kleinloog-Fernández González, H.D. (2014)

Doctoral Thesis

Pharmacological challenges with psychomimetic drugs may not fully represent the complexity of (chronic) schizophrenia, but constitute a useful model for psychosis and antipsychotic drug action. This thesis describes the use of THC and ketamine as models and explores different outcome measurements that can be used to quantify psychomimetic effects, in particular VAS-scales and fMRI. The phenomenological and pharmacological basis of psychomimetic challenge models were discussed. Well-controlled circumstances and repeated measurement of drug concentrations and effect greatly benefit the use of pharmacological challenges in drug development.

• Clinical Pharmacology
• Biological Models
• Clinical Trial
• Drug evaluation
• Psychotic Disorders

• All authors: Kleinloog-Fernández González, H.D.
• Supervisor: Gerven, J.M.A. van; Cohen, A.F.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2014-04-01
• ISBN (print): 9789491997006
• Sponsorship: Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR), Leiden, the Netherlands