Vulnerability to psychotogenic effects of ketamine is associated with elevated D2/3-receptor availability.

Previous positron emission tomography (PET) studies employing competition paradigms have shown either no change or substantial declines in striatal ( 11 C)-raclopride binding after challenge with psychotogenic doses of the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine. We sought to probe the relationship between the severity of ketamine-induced psychotic symptoms and altered dopamine D2/3 receptor availability throughout brain using the high affinity ligand ( 18 F)-fallypride (FP). PET recordings were obtained in a group of 10 healthy, young male volunteers, in a placebo condition, and in the course of an infusion with ketamine at a psychotomimetic dose. Administration of the Positive and Negati…