Results of routine CSF analysis of 1000 psychiatric patients

Lumbar puncture and CSF analysis is a key diagnostic element in psychiatric disorders, particular upon first diagnosis. The lumbar puncture is mainly used to exclude inflammatory and/or chronic inflammatory processes in the etiology of a psychiatric disorder. However, frequently mild to moderate pathological CSF findings can be observed in psychiatric patients. In our study, the results of approx. 1000 CSF analyses of psychiatric patients who underwent a lumbar puncture in our clinic are presented. The basic program of the CSF analysis includes cell count, lactate and glucose concentrations, total protein and albumin. In addition, CSF/serum quotients for albumin, IgG, IgM and IgA are determined using the Reiber method and the CSF is tested for IgG oligoclonal bands with isoelectric focussation. In the statistical analysis, special attention is paid to affective and schizophrenic disorders and the data is correlated with the clinical picture.