Five-year trial of dialytic treatment for schizophrenia

Thirty schizophrenic patients were treated with hemodialysis for 4-36 months. The clinical results were evaluated using two psychiatric scales: the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale. In 13 schizophrenic patients psychiatric symptoms disappeared completely, and complete social reintegration followed. Eight patients showed no significant modification of schizophrenic disease after more than 30 dialysis sessions. Nine patients were not considered because their treatment was interrupted during the first month. Dialysis improved the psychotic attitude in one group of schizophrenic patients. The best results were obtained using polyacrylonitrile membranes.