Figure 3.1 shows the results of the MEDLINE search for the different MeSH terms. It yielded the greatest number of hits on Diseases of the Nervous System, followed by Pathologic Signs and Conditions and Disorders of Environmental Origin, but the latter two were supplemental categories that provided only few new data (see below). The following text addresses the results in the same sequence in which the MeSH terms are listed in MEDLINE.

Bacterial infections and mycoses

The MEDLINE search on Bacterial Infections and Mycoses yielded 277 hits. None of the reports was relevant. Five reports were added from other MEDLINE searches.

Borrelia burgdorferi

Brown (1996) identified geographical distributions of bacterial infections and schizophrenia. He found that areas in the United States with high rates of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) correlated significantly with areas with high schizophrenia rates. He described a similar distribution and correlation in European countries (Croatia, Norway, Finland, Germany, Ireland and others). However, this was only a hypothesis-generating study with a line stating that ‘the opinion expressed in the article are solely those of the author …’. Brown also concluded that definite proof of an association could not be demonstrated because of incomplete epidemiological data.

Tuberculosis

Ohta et al. (1988) investigated the incidence of tuberculosis among 3251 Japanese patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The incidence of tuberculosis was significantly higher (3.04) in schizophrenic patients than in the general population.