Schizophrenia as initial manifestation in Multiple Sclerosis ( MS )

Schizophrenia as initial manifestation in Multiple Sclerosis ( MS )

Background: The hypothesis that schizophrenia may be caused by organic reasons goes back a century. The possibility of the coexistence or unified nature of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and schizophrenia should be explored. In an effort to investigate the possible relationship between the two illnesses, 10 patients were clinically and psychiatrically studied, for a two-year period, after they were diagnosed with simultaneously MS and schizophrenia.

Method: Specifically, the EDSS- Kurtzke scale was used for the clinical evaluation and the psychiatric symptoms were recorded, before the patients were put on a MITOXANTRONE therapy 80-100 mg total dose, which lasted one year.

Results: A year after the end of treatment the patients` clinical and psychological profiles were reevaluated. It was found that 2 years after the beginning of the treatment the symptoms of both illnesses subsided. The frequency of the symptoms was reduced for both illness at the same time approximately at an 80% rate.

Conclusion: In general, it was found that beyond the proven benefits of MITOXANTRONE in MS patients it also have a positive effect on patients with schizophrenia which leads to the question of whether the two illnesses may coexist and whether schizophrenia may be the initial manifestation of MS. We should also examined the possibility that low dose immunosuppression comprises a new treatment option for schizophrenia.

Abstract published in The European Neuropsychopharmacology, the journal of the European college of Neuropsychopharmacology 1999;9(5). Paper presented at the 12th congress of the European College of Neuropharmacology, London, UK, September 21-25, 1999