Correcting the Biochemical Errors in Schizophrenia and Depression

I have always thought that schizophrenia and depression were similar. The same person diagnosed as "schizophrenic" in the U.S., could be taken to the UK and diagnosed as a depressive there. Depression appears to have been a writers' curse since many famous writers from both the U.S. and England had it.

Cellular Tryptophan Uptake High in Both Schizophrenia and Depression

Some material on this is listed in the bibliography. My previous articles are available full text and for free at Gather and at Associated Content. Most of my graphics are published at Gather.

"The accumulation of tryptophan by the platelet is significantly greater in the acutely depressed patients than the control group." Wood et al (1979)

The above British group found tryptophan metabolism to be abnormal in depression. Surprisingly Coppen found tryptophan to be low in the cerebrospinal fluid. This might signify increased uptake of tryptophan by brain cells.

Also in 1979 two Russian scientists studied tryptophan uptake in schizophrenia.

"A study of 21 schizophrenic patients and 21 normal donors in one experiment, conducted on a pool or erythrocytes in 18 chickens with the use of a double blind method, confirmed the previously obtained data of the stimulant action of plasma in schizophrenic patients on the uptake of tryptophan by chicken erythrocytes. It was demonstrated, that the plasma at the same time evokes an increase of cytoplasmatic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase and myokynase)." Mukhin & Faktor

The Russians also reported hemolysis in their assay.

Detroit workers reported similar findings.

"The plasma of the children diagnosed as psychotic caused a significantly (p less than 0.025) greater uptake of tryptophan by chicken red blood cells than did the serum of their control group. This is the same effect on tryptophan uptake as found when the plasma of adult patients with process schizophrenia is incubated with chicken erythrocytes and tryptophan. This finding lends support to the possibility that there is a subgroup of childhood psychotic patients who have a biological disturbance similar to that found in adult process schizophrenia patients." Piggott et al (Detroit)

Other Amino Acids

The possibility is strong that other amino acids may also be involved. I have experimented with various amino acids on myself. Three were toxic to me. These were tryptophan, methionine, and cysteine. I was unable to obtain homocystine.

Neuropathology data suggests that amino acids are flooding the cells in schizophrenia.

Alzheimer (1897)

In 1897 Alois Alzheimer published the first of a series of reports on "dementia praecox", which is now called "schizophrenia". He reported many positive findings, but no the same findings as he later rreported (plaques and tangles) in the disease that now bears his name.

In "dementia praecox" Alzheimer found ameboid glia, fat deposits, pigment deposits, etc. My view is that the fat deposits were caused by amino acids flooding the cells.

Vogt & Vogt (1948)

The Vogts reported cellular degeneration asnd cytoplasmic vacuolation. This was confirmed by Averback in 1981, who reported massive bloating & death of neurons. The work of these brilliant scientists greatly influenced my own theories. I decided on a theory in which excessive amounts of a macronutrient were entering the brain cells.

Stevens (1982)

Janice Stevens of the US found abnormal mineralization in the pallidum. This might be explained if there were excess melainin because melanin is an iron sink. melanin absorbs iron.

She also found ependymal granulations.

Conclusions

It would appear that excessive amino acids, particularly tryptophan, are entering the cells. The treatment might be a low protein diet. Such a diet would have to be very strict because there is a lot of protein in the American diet. Meat and dairy products and eggs should be avoided. Fish should be avoided. Certain plant foods such as legumes are rich in protein. These should also be avoided.

Bibliography

1. Wood K, Swade C, Coppen A. Tryptophan accumulation by blood platelets of depressed patients. J Neural Transm Suppl. 1979;(15):161-3.

2. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/985592/the_relationship_between_hallucinogens.html

3. www.associatedcontent.com/article/984672/neurochemistry_components_of_schizophrenia.html

4. www.associatedcontent.com/article/975360/hispanic_research_on_neuropsychiatry.html

5. Mukhin AG, Faktor MI. [Stimulating effect of schizophrenic patients' plasma on the cellular incorportation of tryptophan in vitro]
Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 1979;79(7):941-7.

6. Piggott LR, Frohman CE, Ward VL, Gottlieb JS. The effect of plasma from psychotic children on tryptophan uptake in chicken erythrocytes. Neuropsychobiology. 1975;1(5):284-95.