Abstract

ALTERED OXIDANT AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND ITS EFFECT ON ACUTE, CHRONIC PATIENTS

Yalaga Rama Rao, Uma Devi P*, Murugan S, Suja. S and P. Chinnasamy

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the status of antioxidants, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in the schizophrenia patients with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms and also investigate the status of these oxidants and antioxidants in the acute and chronic stages of schizophrenia. Method: The study was conducted among 60 schizophrenics, and 60 healthy volunteers. All patients were selected from a local mental health care center. The activities of three free radical scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), and plasma nitrate levels, an index of in vivo nitric oxide production and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid per oxidation were analyzed in patients with positive(n=20), negative(n=20) and cognitive (n=20)symptoms. The study also included the effect acute and chronic phases of schizophrenia on the level of these oxidants and antioxidants in the selected patients. Results: Compared with the control groups, the average values of plasma-Nitrite, erythrocyte SOD, LPO were significantly increased (P<0.01), and of E-CAT and E-GSH-Px decreased (P <0.01) in the patient groups, but statistically more significant increase in the activity of SOD was found for schizophrenics with positive symptoms. Schizophrenics with positive symptomology were found to have pronounced decrease in the activities of GSH-Px and statistically more significant decrease in CAT was found in negative symptomatic people. Plasma nitrite level was increased more significantly in patients with cognitive and negative symptoms compared with positive symptomatic patients. Further a significant rise in oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status was observed in the chronic stage of schizophrenics as compared to those in acute condition. The study showed that the level of malondialdehyde was increased in schizophrenics with positive (163 %), negative (137 %) and cognitive (132%) symptoms compared to control groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that antioxidant defense mechanisms might be impaired in schizophrenic patients and may further support the heterogeneity among positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, symptoms, antioxidant enzymes, Nitric Oxide, Malondialdehyde.