Antibodies discovered with links to psychosis in children

A new study has identified two antibodies in a sub-group of children experiencing their first episode of psychosis.

The University of Sydney-led study detected antibodies to the dopamine D2 receptor and the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor among eight out of 43 children experiencing initial psychotic episodes, but no such antibodies in healthy children.

This indicates that there is a distinct subgroup of young patients with psychosis for whom autoimmunity plays a role in their illness, thus opening the door for potential new treatment approaches.

Further research will be needed to establish whether these antibodies are the mark of a clinically relevant subset of patients and, if so, whether immunosuppressive therapies can be created as a means of intervention.

Dr Fabienne Brilot, the senior author of the paper, said: "Our findings contribute further understanding of the biology of psychiatric and neurological diseases and whether autoantibodies detected in a subgroup of patients can trigger psychiatric disorders."