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Detailed review of the literature shows a relation between the major psychoses and asthma, hay fever, and eczema. There is considerable disagreement but most studies show that the psychotic individual is less likely than the normal to exhibit allergic symptoms and there are several reports of alternation between psychotic and allergic symptoms.
In order to note the incidence of allergic response, observe an aspect of the allergic status of a schizophrenic group, and test the hypothesis that psychosis involves diminished ability to react allergically, the authors studied twenty-two schizophrenic patients and twenty-two controls, using skin tests with administration of allergens, histamines, and cantharides. The schizophrenic group showed no less intensity of allergic response than the controls, but did have consistently smaller wheal response to histamine. It is suggested that the schizophrenic may differ from the normal with respect to links in the allergic process, without necessarily manifesting this clinically. A difference in functioning of the central nervous system in schizophrenics may account for their smaller histamine response and the reported differences in autonomic response, and for their diminished ability contemporaneously to develop sensitization and antibodies. Neither hyporeactivity nor hypoergy in the skin is demonstrable in the schizophrenic group.