Pseudocholinesterase activity and phenotypes in mentally ill patients

Pseudocholinesterase activities and phenotypes have been determined in 103 affectively ill patients, 168 schizophrenics and 73 Huntington's disease sufferers and compared with those of a sample of healthy controls. The distributions of phenotypes in the patient samples did not differ significantly from those of the controls. When corrections were made for sex, age and E1 phenotypes, the Huntington's disease patients showed a reduced level of cholinesterase activity. Normal levels were found in affective disorders and schizophrenia.