ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Plasma Antioxidant Levels in Drug-Naïve Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder, Risperidone-Treated Schizophrenia, and Healthy Controls: An Observational Comparative Study
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Background: Oxidative stress has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders. Non-enzymatic antioxidants such as serum uric acid, bilirubin, and albumin may reflect systemic antioxidant defence and may vary across acute and chronic psychotic states.
Methods: This observational comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care psychiatric centre and included 165 participants divided equally into three groups: drug-naïve first-episode acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD), risperidone-treated schizophrenia, and healthy controls. Socio-demographic and clinical details were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Plasma antioxidant levels, including serum uric acid, total bilirubin, and serum albumin, were estimated in all participants. Symptom severity in patient groups was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.
Results: Serum uric acid and bilirubin levels were lowest in the ATPD group and highest among healthy controls, with statistically significant intergroup differences. Serum albumin was also lowest in ATPD patients and higher in risperidone-treated schizophrenia patients and controls. ATPD patients had higher positive, general psychopathology, and total PANSS scores, while schizophrenia patients had higher negative symptom scores. Serum albumin showed a moderate negative correlation with total PANSS and general psychopathology scores.
Conclusion: Plasma antioxidant levels differed significantly among ATPD, risperidone-treated schizophrenia, and healthy controls, suggesting altered antioxidant defence in psychotic disorders, particularly during acute untreated psychosis.
Keywords: Acute and transient psychotic disorder; Schizophrenia; Risperidone; Oxidative stress; Antioxidants; Uric acid; Bilirubin; Albumin; PANSS
Methods: This observational comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care psychiatric centre and included 165 participants divided equally into three groups: drug-naïve first-episode acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD), risperidone-treated schizophrenia, and healthy controls. Socio-demographic and clinical details were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Plasma antioxidant levels, including serum uric acid, total bilirubin, and serum albumin, were estimated in all participants. Symptom severity in patient groups was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.
Results: Serum uric acid and bilirubin levels were lowest in the ATPD group and highest among healthy controls, with statistically significant intergroup differences. Serum albumin was also lowest in ATPD patients and higher in risperidone-treated schizophrenia patients and controls. ATPD patients had higher positive, general psychopathology, and total PANSS scores, while schizophrenia patients had higher negative symptom scores. Serum albumin showed a moderate negative correlation with total PANSS and general psychopathology scores.
Conclusion: Plasma antioxidant levels differed significantly among ATPD, risperidone-treated schizophrenia, and healthy controls, suggesting altered antioxidant defence in psychotic disorders, particularly during acute untreated psychosis.
Keywords: Acute and transient psychotic disorder; Schizophrenia; Risperidone; Oxidative stress; Antioxidants; Uric acid; Bilirubin; Albumin; PANSS