VIRAL ANTIBODIES IN RECENT-ONSET, NONORGANIC PSYCHOSES - CORRESPONDENCE WITH SYMPTOMATIC SEVERITY

A parallel of generalized viral infection with psychiatric symptoms ha s been reported in nonorganic psychotic disorders. The patients concer ned had been ill for long periods and some of them had been readmitted . In order to determine the presence of viral infection at the very on set of the psychosis, antibodies in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF ) to six viruses [cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex (HSV) Type 1, mumps, measles, varicella tester virus (VZV), and Japanese encephaliti s virus (JEV)] were assayed in 35 psychotic patients [14 schizophrenic s; 13 manic patients; and 8 patients with psychosis not otherwise spec ified (NOS)] within 1 month of onset of illness. Ten (28.6%) patients had a diagnostic (fourfold) change in the antibody titer in the paired serum and/or CSF samples (drawn at 2-week intervals) and another 10 h ad high titers (above 2 SDs from the mean in 35 control subjects). The striking temporal correlation with the initial severity and resolutio n of psychopathology by 2 weeks on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) suggests a causally significant, currently active viral infecti on in these 20 cases.