title: Reduced antioxidant defense in early onset first-episode psychosis: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective is to determine the activity of the antioxidant defense system at admission in patients with early onset first psychotic episodes compared with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total antioxidant status (TAS) and lipid peroxidation (LOOH) were determined in plasma. Enzyme activities and total glutathione levels were determined in erythrocytes in 102 children and adolescents with a first psychotic episode and 98 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A decrease in antioxidant defense was found in patients, measured as decreased TAS and glutathione levels. Lipid damage (LOOH) and glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in patients than controls. Our study shows a decrease in the antioxidant defense system in early onset first episode psychotic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glutathione deficit seems to be implicated in psychosis, and may be an important indirect biomarker of oxidative stress in early-onset schizophrenia. Oxidative damage is present in these patients, and may contribute to its pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, CIBERSAM, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental. University of Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Micó
authors.forename: Maria Olga
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Rojas-Corrales
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibert-Rahola
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parellada
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fraguas
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graell
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irazusta
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro-Fornieles
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soutullo
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arango
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baeza
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cengotitabengoa
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Pinto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione