[The status of extracorporeal detoxication procedures as a therapy method in schizophrenia]

The literature on the problem of extracorporeal detoxication in chronic schizophrenia was critically studied. For the statistically considered 132 cases of chronic schizophrenia without uraemia treated with haemodialysis, haemoperfusion and haemofiltration which are published in the literature (including 12 own cases) it was found that 38 per cent are considered as improved. The insufficient comparability of the examination methods and the want of clearness with respect to the specific therapy influence (placebo effect, etc.) leave the question open whether these are in fact efficient methods of treatment for some cases of chronic schizophrenia. A final decision on this requires continued, methodically more strictly controlled, and above all standardised examinations. The results obtained until now make efforts in this direction appear reasonable.