biogenic amine theory

biogenic amine hypothesis

The theory that defects in the physiology and metabolism of biogenic amines, especially catecholamines (noradrenaline/norepinephrine and dopamine) and an indoleamine (serotonin), are pathogenetically linked to certain psychiatric illnesses, especially depression.

The BAH arose from the discovery that monoamine oxidase inhibitors and some tricyclic drugs had mood-elevating properties, and had a dramatic effect on brain monoamine functions; that phenothiazines inhibit cerebral dopamine activity further support this theory and suggest a link between a disorder of dopamine metabolism and schizophrenia.

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biogenic amine theory

Psychiatry A theory that explains major depression–MD; according to the BAT, MD is due to ↓ CNS levels of amine neurotransmitters–ANs–eg, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin; the BAT also explains the efficacy of antidepressants, which ↑ ANs that bind to postsynaptic receptors on neurons. See Major depression.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.