IMMUNOGLOBULINS AND VIRAL ANTIBODIES IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS

Patterns of serum and C.S.F. IgG, IgA and IgM, and haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies and complement fixing (CF) antibodies against rubella and cytomegaloviruses respectively and total CSF protein were investigated in 30 depressives, 20 each in neurological and surgical patients. Significant changes in total CSF protein and immunoglobulins in depressives and neurological patients in comparison to surgical subjects indicate an etiological similarity between the two groups. Failure to detect antibodies in C.S.F. of these subjects and statistically insignificant seropositivity refute the claim of viral hypothesis for depression but similar alterations in these body proteins in depressives and neurological patients raise other aetiological possibilities.