
Biochemical Derangements In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study
1001-1008
Correspondence
Dr. P.Uma Devi
Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology,
Karunya University,
Coimbatore. 114, Tamil Nadu. India.
Tel: +91-0422-26144477 , Mobile:+91 9994583372
Fax: 91 0422 2629369 ,
e.mail: umadevipongiya@rediffmail.com
Aim:The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the levels of non dietary antioxidants and the status of complete blood count in schizophrenia patients with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving samples of 60 schizophrenia patients who met the established criteria for schizophrenia, and were admitted to the mental health care center, Coimbatore district. Sixty age and sex matched control subjects were also taken. Planned assessments included the levels of uric acid, albumin, bilirubin. Creatinine and complete blood count were performed using standard biochemical methods by applying the Roche/Hitachi Modular D-P automated chemistry analyzer 112.
Results: It is predicted from the results that there was a significant increase in uric acid levels in all the schizophrenics when compared to normal values (p<0.01), but a statistically more significant increase in the status of uric acid was found for schizophrenics with cognitive symptoms(p<0.001). It was observed that there was a significant decrease in serum bilirubin, albumin and creatinine levels in patients with schizophrenia, when compared to controls (0.01). There was no statistically pronounced difference among the levels of albumin, bilirubin and creatinine in schizophrenia patients with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.
Conclusion: These data reveal that non dietary antioxidant defence mechanisms might be impaired in schizophrenic patients. Understanding these basic pathological processes may yield novel targets for the development of more effective treatments.