Erythrocyte electrolytes in psychiatric illness.

Erythrocyte sodium and potassium were measured in 71 patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders and 39 normal controls. Alterations in red cell sodium and potassium occurred in association with changes with mood state in affective illness. However, alterations in erythrocyte potassium may be a non-specific finding in all psychiatric illness. The methodological limitations of our study are discussed. Our data suggest that further study is required to clarify the role of intracellular electrolyte disturbances in psychiatric illness, particularly affective disorders.