Blood Brain Barrier: The Role of GAD Antibodies in Psychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
Goal of our case control study was to establish the presence of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in patients with chronic psychotic disorders.


METHODS
Serum levels of GAD antibodies in 12 patients with chronic psychotic disorders (schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders) and 10 age-matched healthy control subjects were evaluated utilizing enzyme linked immunosorbitent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Antibodies to GAD in patients with chronic psychotic disorders have a higher mean than nonpatient control individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provide the first in-vivo evidence of positive GAD antibodies in chronic psychotic disorders and potentially may be used as a screening for these disorders.
Yarlagadda
Atmaram
A
Dr. Yarlagadda is from McDonald Army Health Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Helvink
Badalin
B
Chou
Caroline
C
Clayton
Anita H
AH