Abstract

ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Dr. Mitchelle C. V. Menezes* and Dr. Chitra Y. Dhume

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome of variable, but profoundly disruptive psychopathology that involves cognition, emotion, perception and other aspects of behavior. There is increasing evidence that oxidative injury contributes to pathophysiology of Schizophrenia. Hence, identification of various oxidants and antioxidants may help to determine their possible role in the etiology and treatment of the disease. The present study assessed the oxidative stress in patients with schizophrenia by measuring serum Malonaldehyde levels and their antioxidant status by measuring blood levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Reduced Glutathione and β- Carotene in a group of sixty patients. The study was conducted over a period of 18 months in the Goa Medical College and the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour. Diagnosis of Schizophrenia was made using the ICD-10 classification. A control group of sixty healthy subjects was recruited. As compared to matched controls, the acutely admitted patients suffering from Schizophrenia exhibited significantly increased lipid peroxidation products and decreased antioxidants namely Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Reduced Glutathione and β-Carotene suggesting that the oxidative damage that occurs in Schizophrenic patients exhausts the antioxidant defense of the body leading to low levels of antioxidants.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Oxidative stress, Antioxidants.