[Immunological study of inefficiency schizophrenics with deficiency syndrome treated with xin shen ling]

This paper reports 30 cases of chronic schizophrenics with deficiency syndrome who had chronically taken many sorts of neuroleptic medications and other therapies to be ineffective. The 7 immunological functioning markers were detected: phytohemagglutinin (PHA) intradermic test; circulating immune complex (CIC); T, B lymphocytes, null (N), double (D) cell; and large granular lymphocyte (LGL) and to be compared with a control group of 30 healthy individual. The result showed that 6 immunological markers (PHA, CIC and T, B, N and D cell) were significantly different as compared with the control group (P less than 0.01). In order to regulate proportion and function to immune cell, the 30 patients were given to take immuno-modulating herbs (xin shen ling, XSL) during 6 weeks, while their 7 immunological markers were detected before treatment (BT) and after treatment (AT). The results showed that 5 immunological markers (PHA, CIC, T, N, and D cell) of BT were significantly different as compared with that of AT (P less than 0.01). However, the 5 immunological markers (PHA, CIC, and T, N and D cell) of AT were not significantly different as compared with that of the control group (P less than 0.05). The brief psychosis rating scale (BPRS) and nurses observation scale for inpatient evaluation (NOSIE) were used as evaluating changes of clinical symptoms BT and AT. The results showed that BPRS and NOSIE of BT were significantly different as compared with that of AT (P less than 0.05). The clinical efficacious rate was 67%. We have followed up the results for near 3 years which had a relapse of 5 cases of 20 cases be discharged. It seemed that XSL may be one of the preventive relapse agent for these patients.