The Electroencephalogram of Schizophrenic Patients During Administration of Vitamin B 1

Abstract

Recent studies 1 suggest that a deficient oxygen metabolism is present in schizophrenia. Increasing the rate of oxygen consumption in schizophrenics by means of thyroid 2 and dinitrophenol 3 has resulted in some clinical improvement. Since vitamin B₁ is known to influence oxygen consumption of the brain, 4 is seemed desirable to investigate its effect on the schizophrenic psychosis. The results of this study by Dr. L. H. Chase have been published elsewhere. 5 The present report has to do with the electroencephalograms recorded during the major investigation. It has been found previously that thyroid 6 and dinitrophenol 7 increase the frequency of the “alpha” rhythm of the electroencephalograms. If vitamin B₁ had the same effect, more direct evidence would be at hand to decide whether the medication influenced the metabolism of the brain.

Five schizophrenic patients were given 100 mg of synthetic crystalline vitamin B₁ daily∗ for a period of 6 to 9 weeks. The medication was given orally except for the last 2 weeks, when it was administered intravenously. Weekly electroencephalograms were obtained from each patient for 3 weeks prior to medication, during medication and for 3 weeks after discontinuation of vitamin B₁. Small, lead disc-electrodes were placed over the occipital lobes, and potentials recorded with reference to a pair of earthed leads on the mastoid processes. Two Grass amplifiers and ink-writing undu-lators were employed.

The “alpha” frequency remained within normal limits of variation 8 throughout the medication and post-medication periods. Likewise the amount of “alpha” activity (percent time alpha) did not vary more during medication than it did before or after vitamin B₁ administration.

Vitamin B₁ administration has no observable influence on brain potentials from normal pigeons, but does have an appreciable effect in avitaminotic pigeons. 9