Myasthenia Gravis and Schizophrenia — a Rare Combination

The effect of emotional stress in myasthenia gravis is well known, and moreover Meyer (7) has shown that psychiatric problems make a considerable contribution to the mortality of the disease. It has been estimated that there are at least 1,100 diagnosed myasthenics in England and Wales with many more undiagnosed (5). Considering the close medical supervision myasthenics receive it is striking that in 677 cases of myasthenia subjected to psychiatric scrutiny only 2 schizophrenia-like reactions were observed, despite the similar age of onset of the two conditions.