Serum magnesium concentration in schizophrenia and epilepsy.

A SIGNIFICANT elevation in plasma magnesium concentration in a small series of schizophrenic and depressive patients has recently been reported by Cade (1). These levels were said to be further elevated by treatment. The present study, as part of a study of blood from schizophrenic patients (2, 3), was undertaken to determine if these observations represented a general phenomenon among schizophrenic patients. A small group of epileptic patients was also included to provide a test of the suggestion that this group might reflect a contrasting status with regards to magnesium concentration (1).