Oxidative Stress and Schizophrenia

Many studies show that oxidative stress is a pathophysiological mechanism of schizophrenia. Elevated oxidative stress levels and the damage to the antioxidant defense system can observed in early schizophrenia. High oxidation levels damage lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and other tissues. Antioxidant defense system imbalance has been observed in both neuroleptic-naïve first-episode schizophrenics and chronic schizophrenics being treated with medication and indicates the presence of oxidative stress in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs also exert certain impacts on oxidative stress while improving the schizophrenia clinical symptoms. Antioxidants synergistically improve schizophrenia clinical symptoms. A combination regime of antipsychotic drugs and antioxidants is a potentially effective treatment strategy for schizophrenia.