[Dynamics of the lipid peroxidation process in the body of patients with manic-depressive psychosis].

Using gas chromatography the authors have studied the time course of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in patients with manic depressive psychosis (a depressive phase) during a course of antidepressive therapy. The results indicate that the levels of LPO in young patients (up to 30 years) with a disease standing of up to 5 years are significantly higher than in age-matched controls whereas with increasing duration of the disease the levels of this parameter decrease and in elderly patients (over 50 years) with a longer duration of the disease (over 15 years) this parameter is significantly lower than in age-matched controls. A decrease of LPO is particularly pronounced in a bipolar course of manic depressive psychosis.