[Effect of treatment with psychotropic preparations on suppressor T-lymphocytes in juvenile continuously-progressing...

The paper deals with the effect of psychotropic drugs on blood levels of suppressive T-lymphocytes in patients with continuously progressive schizophrenia. The patients were examined three times: the first sample of blood was taken after a long psychotropic therapy, the second 3 weeks after the discontinuation of the therapy and the third one 3 weeks after the resumption of treatment. The lowest levels of suppressory T-lymphocytes (averaging 16.3%) were observed during the first examination. Following the discontinuation of therapy the content of T-suppresspors increased to 21.3% (P less than 0.001) failing, however, to reach the mean level characteristic of normal donors (25.7%). The amount of suppressory T-lymphocytes decreased again after treatment resumption. It is concluded that one of the factors contributing to changes in the immunological status in patients with juvenile continuously progressive schizophrenia may be a long-term use of psychotropic drugs.