Schizophrenia, Monoamine Oxidase Activity, and Cigarette Smoking

Reduced monoamine oxidase activity has been proposed as a marker for vulnerability to schizophrenia. Reduced monamine oxidase activity has also been shown to occur in cigarette smokers. This study compared monamine oxidase activity level in a matched group of patients with schizophrenia who smoked with a group who did not. Lower levels of monoamine oxidase activity were found in the smokers and this is the likely explanation for the low levels hypothesized as a marker for schizophrenia.