Histochemical abnormalities of skeletal muscle in patients with acute psychoses

In 29 acutely psychotic patients (mostly schizophrenic), histochemical abnormalities of a myopathic type were demonstrated in skeletal muscle biopsies from 13 and were generally correlated with elevation of the "muscle" type isoenzymes of creatine phosphokinase in the patients' serum. The incidence was much higher than found in normal controls, hospitalized neurotic psychiatric patients, or parents of acutely psychotic patients. A diazo-coupling type of "alka-line phosphatase" reaction was particularly useful in identifying abnormal muscle fibers.