Abstract

Objectives: Considering the important effects of increase in free radicals such as superoxidase and nitric oxide on deficiency in antioxidant defense and the harm done to brain, this research was carried out with the aim of comparing oxidative stress in patients with schizophrenia and normal individuals.

Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 60 patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fourth edition-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria by a psychiatrist, and 180 normal subjects who were matched based on age, sex, smoking and income. Patients were selected using convenience sampling in Amir Kabir Hospital. After filling consent forms, five ml of venous blood sample was drawn from the subjects for measuring stress oxidative indexes. Satho and thiobarbitoric acid (TBA) methods were used to measure lipid peroxidation, Hu and Dithionitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) were used to measure thiol groups, and�Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) which evaluates plasma ability in ferric ion reduction was used to measure total serum antioxidative activity. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient, t-test, and logistic regression pattern.

Results: The mean age of subjects was 32.13 (±9.46). Seven and 53 patients had acute and chronic schizophrenia respectively. The mean difference of thiol index between the subject and control groups was significant (p<0.001). Mean of FRAP index was also significantly different between the two groups (p<0.005). The mean for TBA index was higher in the subject group but the difference was not significant.

Conclusion: A decrease in thiol and FRAP leads to a decrease in antioxidant defense in patients with schizophrenia.