Lipid Chemistry and the Psychiatric Patient

Introduction A considerable body of knowledge has been accumulated in recent years concerning severe genetic neurological diseases such as Tay-Sachs, Sandhoffs disease, juvenile GM2 gangliosidosis, juvenile GM1 gangliosidosis, chronic Gaucher's disease, and Fabry's disease. Those are in effect genetic sphingolipid-oses (O'Brien et al., 1972). The detection of both homozygotes and heterozygotes is now possible in utero (O'Brien et al., 1972; O'Brien, 1973). Similarly the biochemistry and treatment of disorders such as Parkinson's disease are understood (Hornykiewich, 1973). When one examines other neurological disorders, much less is known. In schizophrenia, mental depression, or hyperkinesis, there are no demonstrable neuropathological changes, no definitive