Oxidative damage and schizophrenia - An overview of the evidence and its therapeutic implications

Free radicals are highly reactive chemical species generated during normal metabolic processes, which in excess can lead to membrane damage. Elaborate antioxidant defence systems exist to protect against oxidative stress. The re is accumulating evidence of altered antioxidant capacity in schizophreni a. Membrane dysfunction can be secondary to free radical-mediated pathology . and may contribute to specific aspects of schizophrenic symptomatology an d complications of its treatment. Specifically. free radical-mediated abnor malities may contribute to the development of a number of clinically signif icant consequences, including prominent negative symptoms, tardive dyskines ia, neurological 'soft' signs and parkinsonian symptoms. Our previous resul ts showing altered membrane dynamics and antioxidant enzyme activities in s chizophrenia, and findings from other investigators, are consistent with th e notion of free radical-mediated neurotoxicity in schizophrenia. These fin dings provide a theoretical basis from which the development of novel thera peutic strategies such as fatty acid and antioxidant supplementation can oc cur in the future.