Immunological influences in attention-deficit disorder and schizophrenia; is there a link between these two...

This paper aims to explore the influence of the immune system on the pathobiochemistry of movement disorders (Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorders and attention-deficit disorder, with and without hyperactivity) and schizophrenia. In children, a temporal relationship has been observed between contraction of a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection and subsequent presentation with one of the movement disorders. Pathology investigations reveal that elevated antineuronal antibodies are associated with movement disorders. Similarly, elevations in interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 have been reported in schizophrenia. It is now known that the immune system can be activated by conditions other than a viral or bacterial infection, such as: neurological insult, neurotoxicity--endogenous and environmental, neurotransmitter and cholesterol dysregulation. These latter avenues of immune system activation will be explored with respect to schizophrenia.