Skip to main content
Log in

The use of methylene blue in the treatment of catatonic dementia praecox patients

  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Fact are presented to show that a minute quantity of methylene blue is capable of greatly augmenting the oxygen combining and oxidation powers of living cells.

Evidence is submitted in support of the theory that in dementia præcox psychosis and particularly in its stuporous type there is deficient oxidation in the tissues, and that as a consequence there is an accumulation of toxic products, which may be the cause of many of the mental and physical manifestations of this disease.

Five cases are presented suggesting the possibility that patients suffering from catatonic stupor or stuporous conditions of other types of psychoses may be benefited by a methylene blue therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barron, E. S. G., and Harrup, G. A.: Studies of blood cell metabolism. Jour. Exper. Med., XLVIII, 207, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ibid.: Studies on blood cell metabolism; the effect of methylene blue and other dyes upon the glyocolysis and lactic acid formation of mammalian erythrocytes. Jour. Biol. Chem., LXXIX, 65, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barron, E. S. G.: Studies on blood cell metabolism; the effect of methylene blue on the oxygen consumption of the eggs of the sea urchin and starfish; the mechanism of the action of methylene blue on living cells. Jour. Biol. Chem., 81:445, 1929.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bell, M. A.: Methylene blue in carbon monoxide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 100:1402.

  5. Conn, H. J.: Biological Stains. Handbook of Commission on Standardization of Biological Stains, N. Y. State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y.

  6. Devine, H.: Recent Advances in Psychiatry. P. Blakiston's Son and Co., Inc., Philadelphia.

  7. Eddy, N. B.: Regulation of respiration; the antagonism between methylene blue and sodium cyanide. Jour. Pharmacol., 41:449, 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ibid.: Use of methylene blue in cyanide poisoning. Jour. Pharmacol. and Exper. Therapy., 39:271, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Geiger, J. C.: Cyanide poisoning in San Francisco. Jour. A. M. A., 99:1944.

  10. Ibid. Geiger, J. C.: Methylene blue in the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 100:1103.

  11. Ibid. Geiger, J. C.: Methylene blue solutions in potassium cyanide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 101:269.

  12. Golla: Some recent work on the pathology of schizophrenia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med., XXII, 31, 1929.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Golla, Mann and Marsh: The respiratory regulation in psychotic patients. Jour. Ment. Sci., LXVII, 443, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Haggard, H. W., and Greenberg, L. A.: Methylene blue as a synergist, not an antidote, for carbon monoxide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 100:2001, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Haldane: Symptoms, causes and prevention of anoxemia. Brit. Med. Jour., 2:65, 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hanzlik, P. J.: Methylene blue as antidote for cyanide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 100:357.

  17. Hug: Compt. rend. Soc. de Biol., 112:511, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Koch and Mann: A chemical study of the brain in healthy and diseased conditions, with especial reference to dementia præcox. Arch. Neur. and Psychiat., 4:174, 1909.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Marsh: The excitability of the respiratory center in psychotic patients. Lancet, 1:1, 1032.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mott: The psychopathology of puberty and adolescence. Jour. Ment. Sci., LXVII, 279, 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Petroff, C.: Arch. f. Psychiat., 103:54.

  22. Pickworth: Mental Disorder and Its Relation to Deficient Oxidation in the Brain Tissue. Mott Memorial Volume, 1929. H. K. Lewis and Co., London.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Quastel: Biochemistry and mental disorder. Lancet, 2:1417, 1932.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Quastel and Stom-Olsen: Glucose-insulin administration in prolonged narcoses. Lancet, 1:464, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Quastel and Wheatley: Oxidation of the brain. Biochem. Jour., 26:725, 1932.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sahlin and Lund: Skandinav. Arch. f. Physiol., 47:284, 1926.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sollmann, T.: Manual of Pharmacology. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wendell, W. B.: Methylene blue and cyanide poisoning. Jour. A. M. A., 100:1054.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Allexsaht, W.J. The use of methylene blue in the treatment of catatonic dementia praecox patients. Psych Quar 12, 245–252 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01566188

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01566188

Keywords

Navigation