Changes in osmotic resistance of leucocytes in mental illnesses

A simple method is described for determining osmotic resistance of leucocytes in peripheral blood: stained leucocytes are counted after 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes of blood incubation with 0.2% NaCl solution. With this method it was possible to demonstrate a significant decrease in osmotic resistance of leucocytes, primarily granulocytes, in schizophrenics (by about 1/3) and in neurotics (by about 1/5) in comparison to a healthy control sample.