Immunoglobulin studies in patients with psychiatric diseases

Autoimmune processes and viral infections have been proposed as causative factors in psychiatric diseases. To investigate this issue, we screened serum and CSF from schizophrenic and depressed patients for quantitative and qualitative immunoglobulin abnormalities. Qualitative immunoglobulin abnormalities were assessed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) since the presence of IEF oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands is a feature of viral and autoimmune diseases. We found no significant elevation of immunoglobulin levels or increased incidence of oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands, suggesting that viruses and autoimmunity are not involved in the major psychoses.