Trace elements in manic depressive psychosis

The concentrations of 16 elements (Al, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, I, Pb, Mg, Mn, Mo, Rb, Se, Na, S and Ti) were estimated by neutron activation analysis in samples of hair, whole blood, serum and urine from normal controls, from patients suffering from mania and depression and from patients who had recovered from mania and from depression. Significant differences between groups were shown but apart from molybdenum, no element showed a significant change in more than one tissue. The differences in molybdenum concentrations appear to be of potential interest but the results must be interpreted with caution.