Serum immunoglobulin status of psychiatric in-patients.

In view of the fact that substantial evidence today links psyche, brain, stress and immune system, the serum immunoglobulin (viz. IgG, IgA, IgM) levels in 40 patients with psychiatric disorders (viz. Schizophrenia, Affective disorder and generalized Anxiety disorders) have been investigated. With the exception of IgA, all psychiatric patients had significantly elevated IgG, IgM levels (p less than 0.001) when compared with healthy controls. Surprisingly these immunoglobulin levels irrespective of prevalent psychiatric disorder were almost similar to those of the hospitalized surgical patients pre-operatively (preferable controls), suggestive of no direct linear causal relationship between the psychiatric disorder and serum immunoglobulin levels. Factors affecting immunoglobulins have been discussed. Considering a probable viral association in Schizophrenia it is felt that simultaneous monitoring of viruses (affecting the nervous system) in the form of antigen/antibodies may be more informative.