This report is concerned with the variations which occur in the protein and lipoid contents of the blood serum of schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients during exacerbations and remissions of symptoms. The values have been compared with those obtained in similar long term studies on persons in good health. In addition, the general levels of lipoids in the two groups of psychotic patients and in the control group have been compared.
Previous reviews of biochemical studies of dementia praecox and manic-depressive psychosis, such as those of Page1 and, more recently, of McFarland and Goldstein,2 have revealed marked differences in the results obtained by various observers. The sources of this confusion can be summarized as follows: The large group of patients with so-called schizophrenia exhibit a variety of conditions that are very different and may not be related. Furthermore, the condition of each patient varies enormously in the course of