The prevalence of autoantibodies among right and left handed schizophrenic patients and control subjects

Biol Psychiatry. 1992 Nov 1;32(9):803-11. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(92)90083-c.

Abstract

Sera from schizophrenic patients (n = 186) and healthy control subjects (n = 346) were tested for the presence of seven common autoantibodies by standard immunological methods. The association between handedness and autoantibodies was tested in a multi-way contingency table using a log-linear model. For men, but not women, nondextrals (patients and controls) were twice as likely to test positive for autoantibodies than dextrals (p = 0.0002). Although more women (33%) than men (24%) tested positive for autoantibodies, handedness was not a distinguishing factor among women. These data suggest that sinistrality and gender are associated with autoantibodies in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients and healthy control subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / psychology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / immunology*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies