Elevated plasma lipid peroxides at the onset of nonaffective psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Impaired antioxidant defense and increased lipid peroxidation has been reported in chronic schizophrenic patients. Recently, we have reported an impaired antioxidant defense in never medicated first-episode schizophrenic and schizophreniform patients. We report now a concomitant increase in plasma lipid peroxides.


METHODS
The plasma lipid peroxides [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] were analyzed by chemical and high performance liquid chromatography procedures in 26 patients admitted for a first episode of schizophrenic (N = 17) or schizophreniform psychosis (N = 9) and 16 normal control subjects. The patients had a duration of 4.5 days (SD 2.8) of psychosis at the time of the study.


RESULTS
Plasma TBARS levels were significantly higher in the patients than in normal controls (P < .002). TBARS levels were above the normal range in 16 of the 26 patients. Higher TBARS levels were associated with a greater severity of negative symptoms and lower red blood cell activity of the glutathione peroxidase.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate ongoing oxidative injury at the very onset of psychosis. If valid, this would indicate the need for adjunctive antioxidant treatment from the beginning of the course of nonaffective psychoses. This might prevent a deteriorating course and development of the deficit syndrome.
Mahadik
S P
SP
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA.
Mukherjee
S
S
Scheffer
R
R
Correnti
E E
EE
Mahadik
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D012557:Schizoid Personality Disorder / Q000097:blood; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase