Serum Calcium and Sodium in Some Psychotic Disorders

Abstract

The influence of slight variations in the inorganic constituents of the tissue fluids on the function of the nervous system has long been the subject of physiological investigation. Thus a disturbance of the ratio Ca/Na is known to be related to the irritability of muscular tissue (1). Ca and K are antagonistic in their action on the vegetative nervous system: Ca increases the excitability of the sympathetic system, whilst K excites the parasympathetic system (2). The influence of Ca on the excitability of the central nervous system finds a clinical illustration in tetany; and, from a pathological point of view, diminution of the serum Ca is well established in certain types of this disorder.