Macromolecular glycolipids and glycoproteins of the nervous system itself are being investigated in terms of their chemical structure, histological localization, and physiological function. Parallel "doubleblind" clinical and quantitative neurochemical studies in psychiatric patients and controls have indicated a high degree of chemical individuation of these nervous system constituents, which may have relevance to individuality. In addition, distinctive patterns of these constituents have been observed in chronic brain syndrome, manic, depressive, and schizophrenic patients, and controls. These new quantitative methods provide a unique opportunity to study longitudinally primary correlations between neurochemical and clinical events in individual patients.Abstract Teaser