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Elevated bilirubin in acute and transient psychotic disorder
D R Bach1, J Kindler, W K Strik
1University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. d.bach@fi l.ion.ucl.ac.uk
Pharmacopsychiatry
|February 24, 2010
Summary
Patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) show higher bilirubin levels than those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. This suggests distinct biological factors may underlie different psychotic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is more prevalent in schizophrenic spectrum disorders.
- This hyperbilirubinemia has been associated with brain alterations.
- The schizophrenic spectrum encompasses diverse diagnostic entities with potentially different etiologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bilirubin levels in patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD).
- To compare bilirubin levels in ATPD with those in paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
- To explore potential reasons for elevated bilirubin in ATPD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 325 hospital admissions over a one-year period.
- Comparison of total and direct bilirubin levels between patient groups and the general population.
Main Results:
- ATPD showed a significantly increased association with total bilirubin levels and elevated total bilirubin rates compared to paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
- Bilirubin levels in ATPD patients were higher than in the general population.
- Elevated direct bilirubin in ATPD suggests that reduced UGT activity (Gilbert's syndrome) is unlikely to be the cause.
Conclusions:
- A notable difference in bilirubin levels exists between ATPD and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder.
- Disorder severity, etiology, or environmental factors influencing enzyme activity may explain these differences.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms.
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