title: The prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: results from a large cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increased prevalence of autoantibodies has been found in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for autoimmunity in schizophrenia pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), with further determination of specific antibodies, in 368 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and 283 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in prevalence of ANAs between patients (8%) and controls (11%) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not find an association between ANAs and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We discuss potential reasons for the discrepancy with some previous studies, such as inclusion of patients using chlorpromazine, which can induce ANAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van Mierlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lot
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Witte
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald Hwm
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Derksen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henny G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Otten