Enhancement of recovery from psychiatric illness by methylfolate

Lancet. 1990 Aug 18;336(8712):392-5. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)91942-4.

Abstract

41 (33%) of 123 patients with acute psychiatric disorders (DSM III diagnosis of major depression or schizophrenia) had borderline or definite folate deficiency (red-cell folate below 200 micrograms/l) and took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of methylfolate, 15 mg daily, for 6 months in addition to standard psychotropic treatment. Among both depressed and schizophrenic patients methylfolate significantly improved clinical and social recovery. The differences in outcome scores between methylfolate and placebo groups became greater with time. These findings add to the evidence implicating disturbances of methylation in the nervous system in the biology of some forms of mental illness.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Depressive Disorder / blood*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Erythrocytes / analysis
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Schizophrenia / blood*
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenia / etiology
  • Vitamin B 12 / blood

Substances

  • N(10)-methylfolate
  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Methotrexate