Phencyclidine (PCP) and Amphetamine Receptor Binding Sites

Both phencyclidine [1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, PCP, angel dust] and amphetamine are widely abused in North America (Biel and Bopp, 1978 ; Petersen and Stillman, 1978 ). Among their various effects, it is well known that PCP induces sedation, sensory isolation, and hallucinations. Morever, drug abusers have also described strong feelings of depersonalization that make PCP an impressive drug model of schizophrenia (Domino, 1981 ; Snyder, 1980 ). These disturbances in thinking have been described as “loosening of association, overinclusive thoughts, delusional thinking, and general disorganization, all strikingly reminiscent of thought disorders of schizophrenics” (Snyder, 1980 ). Thus, PCP’s pharmacological profile is unlike that of any other psychoactive drug and may provide a good animal model of schizophrenia (Domino, 1981 ; Quirion and Pert, 1983a ; Pert and Quirion, 1983 ).