ABNORMALITY OF THE BLOOD-CEREBROSPINAL FLUID BARRIER OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM A DEPRESSIVE ILLNESS

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Abstract
By measuring the rate of Na24 entry the blood-cere-brospinal fluid barrier was studied in depressed mental patients. The groups of patients were as follows: (1) 20, tested before electro-con-vulsive treatment (ECT); (2) 10, who had recovered or improved due to treatment; and (3) 11, who remained depressed in spite of treatment. These results were compared with those obtained from 19 schizophrenics and 12 controls. A significant decrease in the rate of Na24 entry of nearly 50% was noted in those suffering from depressive illnesses. This decrease was due to a decrease in the permeability of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and not to a decrease in the size of the capillary bed which was investigated by tritium entry. Since ECT produced clinical improvement which in turn was related to an increase in the rate of Na24 entry, the change is reversible.