CHICAGO, Oct 22, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. scientists say anti-epileptic
drug treatments administered when the brain is developing appear to trigger
schizophrenia-like behavior in animal models.
Georgetown University Medical Center researchers noted that in humans, having a
history of seizures in infancy is a significant risk factor for development of
schizophrenia later in life, but it is not known whether the elevated risk is
due to seizures themselves, or from side effects of anti-epileptic drug
treatment.
"We know that early-life exposure to (anti-epileptic drug treatments) such as
Phenobarbital triggers cell death in many brain regions associated with the
onset of schizophrenia," said doctoral student Guillermo Palchik. "This study
not only suggests a relationship between the drugs and schizophrenia, but it
raises important questions regarding the side effects of a widely-used class of
drugs."
He noted Phenobarbital and similar medications are used not only as a treatment
for seizures, but more generally in the treatment of migraines, neuropathic pain
and mood disorders, among other ailments.
The research was presented in Chicago this week's during the 39th annual meeting
of the Society for Neuroscience.
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