Oxidative stress in schizophrenia

Abstract EN

-The present study was conducted to verify the oxidative stress status in schizophrenia.

Malondialdehyde, reduce glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and vitamin C levels were measured in sera of seventy schizophrenic patients and thirty healthy individuals.

The statistical analysis (student`s t-test) showed a significant (p<0.005) increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) while a significant (p<0.005) decrease in reduce glutathione (GSH) also a significant (p<0.005) decrease in superoxide dismutase and a significant (p<0.005) decrease in vitamin C levels in schizophrenic patients when compared with those of the control group.

The evaluation of sex differences effect on oxidative stress in schizophrenic patients show a significant (p<0.025) increase in MDA but a significant (p<0.005) decrease in GSH and a significant (p<0.025) decrease in SOD in female in comparison to male groups.

According to the symptoms of schizophrenia show there are a significant (p<0.05) increase in MDA in positive symptom when compare to negative symptoms while a significant (p<0.005) decrease in SOD and GSH in negative symptom when compare to positive symptoms The results indicate that schizophrenia is associated with oxidative stress.

And it appears that when the case gets worse the oxidative stress parameters will dependently changes.

So schizophrenia is a sever psychiatric disorder and since there is an evidence that an excessive free radicals production or oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenic patient.

So that the excess quantities of ROS that are produced by schizophrenic patients may overcome the host antioxidant defenses and cause oxidative stress.

Keywords oxidative stress, free radicals, MDA, GSH, SOD, vitamin C, Antioxidants, Schizophrenia.