Psychiatric Times (2011)
Schizophrenia and the Immune System with mention below of the microbiome and the Endocrine System
Mental Illness & the Immune System --
Evidence of a primary connection keeps piling up
Univ. of Manchester finds Schizophrenia may be caused by immune system dysfunction
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Summary: Schizophrenia may, in part, be caused by immune system dysfunction, a new study reports. Treatment with Methotrexate, a drug commonly prescribed for autoimmune disorders like R.A. (Rheumatoid Arthritis), produced positive effects against some prominent schizophrenia symptoms. [Dec. 2020] Source: University of Manchester A study by clinical scientists at The University of Manchester has shown that schizophrenia may – in some part – be caused by disordered functioning of the immune system. The first ever trial in schizophrenia of the powerful immune suppressant drug, Methotrexate, produced what the team described as ‘promising’ effects on what are known as positive symptoms, such as hearing voices. Though the team stress the sample size was too small to show if Methotrexate could work as an add-on treatment for schizophrenia, they found a ‘puzzling’ therapeutic effect on symptoms of early schizophrenia. And that, they argue, warrants further investigation. The findings published in Translational Psychiatry shed new light on the devastating and difficult to treat condition, which causes distress and disability worldwide. Schizophrenia is categorised by so called ‘positive symptoms’ such as hearing voices (hallucinations) and ‘negative symptoms’ (disordered thinking, poor motivation, poor social function). The lack of available treatments for these symptoms encouraged Professor Chaudhry’s team to investigate new treatment options for schizophrenia. Methotrexate is often used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions are more common in patients with schizophrenia, possibly indicating that there is a shared underlying cause to these diseases. “Methotrexate is thought to help treat autoimmune disorders by resetting the way T cells – an important part of the immune system – work”, said Professor Chaudhry. “This action on the central nervous system may account for the improvement in symptoms we found in our study,” he added. They used a low 10mg dose of the drug, which was given alongside the patients’ routine psychiatric medication. Nusrat Husain, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Research in Global Mental Health at The University of Manchester added: “We used the lowest clinically effective dose in autoimmune disorders which often needs to be increased so higher doses could produce a more powerful effect in schizophrenia. “However, the health risks of methotrexate are substantial and require careful monitoring which is why we would rule out large unfocused trials.” “ Source: University of Manchester Contact: Press Office – University of Manchester “A randomised clinical trial of methotrexate points to possible efficacy and adaptive immune dysfunction in psychosis” by I. B. Chaudhry, M. O. Husain, A. B. Khoso, M. I. Husain, M. H. Buch, T. Kiran, B. Fu, P. Bassett, I. Qurashi, R. ur Rahman, S. Baig, A. Kazmi, F. Corsi-Zuelli, P. M. Haddad, B. Deakin & N. Husain. Translational Psychiatry |
Limitations of Current Medications Negative symptoms, which contribute significantly to the disability associated with schizophrenia are hard to treat with currently available medication. Immune T-cell Regulation Appears to be Involved with Schizophrenia
Methotrexate is thought to work in autoimmune disorders by resetting systemic regulatory T-cell control of immune signaling; 
University of Manchester
Pakistan Institute of Living & Learning (PILL)
Global Cooperation The study was funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute in the United States in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning. Suggested Future Research
The small, unexpected effect we found in our study warrants further investigation which we now believe is feasible.
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Schizophrenia and the Immune System
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Schizophrenia and the Microbiome
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Schizophrenia and the Endocrine System
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