Further studies on cell-mediated immunity to myelin basic protein in schizophrenic patients.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) toward myelin human basic protein (HBP) was studied in 19 chronic drug-free schizophrenic patients and in 30 patients with primary affective disorders receiving psychoactive drugs, 74% of the schizophrenics showed an inhibition of macrophage migration, whereas only one patient from the affective group showed such a response. These results indicate that drugs are not responsible for the appearance of CMI to HBP in schizophrenics. One out of 9 ECT-treated patients developed a CMI to HBP.