A biochemical study of short-cycle manic-depressive psychosis in mental defectives.

Four mentally defective patients who were suffering from short-cycle manic-depressive psychosis were each studied under metabolic ward conditions for about six months. Weekly estimations of erythrocyte Na-K ATPase activity, ouabain sensitive potassium influx, sodium concentration, whole blood cell ATP concentration and blood haematocrit were made. The findings in each patient differed, but the erythrocyte Na-K ATPase activity, sodium and ATP concentration appeared to show cyclic changes related to, though out of phase with, the clinical state.