Hemodialysis in chronic schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Ten schizophrenic patients were dialyzed once a week for 16 weeks. They showed marked abnormalities in thinking, affect, and behavior. When out of the hospital, they lived vegetative, nonproductive lives. Seven patients at the end of the 16-week period showed no or minimal symptoms involving thinking, affect, and behavior. One patient showed moderate improvement, and there were two treatment failures.