RED-BLOOD-CELL SUPEROXYDE DISMUTASE IN PO SITIVE PSYCHOSIS

Dysregulation of free radical metabolism has been supposed to be invol ved in schizophrenia etiopathogeny. Recently, Wang et al. showed a red blood cell super oxyde dismutase increase in positive schizophrenia ( Crow's type I), but neither in negative schizophrenia (Crow's type II) nor in controls. The study included 28 in-patients suffering from acu te positive psychosis who were compared with 15 controls. We confirmed the results of Wang. We found a significantly red blood cell Super ox yde dismutase increase in positive psychosis, in comparison to negativ e psychosis and controls (p = 0.0001). This SOD increase was in relati onship with the degree of clinical psychomotor excitement. After 21 da ys of neuroleptic treatment SOD activity decreased and reached standar d values. These results support the hypothesis of stricking relationsh ips between catecholaminergic hyper-metabolism and SOD increase, in po sitive psychosis. These could account for psychotic positive symptoms improvement with neuroleptic treatment, which blocks dopamine pathways .