Hepatitis A and B markers and presumable non-A, non-B hepatitis in a psychiatric institution.

The frequencies of hepatitis A and hepatitis B markers were determined in 291 members of the staff and 714 patients of a psychiatric institution for adults. 71.8% of the patients suffered from psychosis, 17.7% from neurosis, and 10.6% from oligophrenia. 84.4% of the patients and 69.2% of the staff were anti-HAV-positive. - 26.8% of the patients and 19.9% of the staff showed at least one HBV marker. The frequency of anti-HBc increased with age but not with hospitalization. Anti-HBc-positive persons did not show transaminase abnormalities more often as reported previously. - 2.6% of the patients were presumable Non-A, Non-B hepatitis cases after excluding IgM-anti-HAV, IgM-anti-CMV or -EBV and possible toxic effects. The rate of presumable Non-A, Non-B hepatitis equaled the frequency of HBsAg-positive persons.