12 results
The contribution of cannabis use to the increased psychosis risk among minority ethnic groups in Europe
- J. P. Selten, M. Di Forti, D. Quattrone, P. B. Jones, H. E. Jongsma, C. Gayer-Anderson, A. Szöke, P. M. Llorca, C. Arango, M. Bernardo, J. Sanjuan, J. L. Santos, M. Arrojo, I. Tarricone, D. Berardi, A. Lasalvia, S. Tosato, C. la Cascia, E. Velthorst, E. M. A. van der Ven, L. de Haan, B. P. Rutten, J. van Os, J. B. Kirkbride, C. M. Morgan, R. M. Murray, F. Termorshuizen
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 May 2024, pp. 1-10
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Background
We examined whether cannabis use contributes to the increased risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities in Europe.
MethodsWe used data from the EU-GEI study (collected at sites in Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands) on 825 first-episode patients and 1026 controls. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) of psychotic disorder for several groups of migrants compared with the local reference population, without and with adjustment for measures of cannabis use.
ResultsThe OR of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities, adjusted for age, sex, and recruitment area, was 1.80 (95% CI 1.39–2.33). Further adjustment of this OR for frequency of cannabis use had a minimal effect: OR = 1.81 (95% CI 1.38–2.37). The same applied to adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis. Likewise, adjustments of ORs for most sub-groups of non-western countries had a minimal effect. There were two exceptions. For the Black Caribbean group in London, after adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis the OR decreased from 2.45 (95% CI 1.25–4.79) to 1.61 (95% CI 0.74–3.51). Similarly, the OR for Surinamese and Dutch Antillean individuals in Amsterdam decreased after adjustment for daily use: from 2.57 (95% CI 1.07–6.15) to 1.67 (95% CI 0.62–4.53).
ConclusionsThe contribution of cannabis use to the excess risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities was small. However, some evidence of an effect was found for people of Black Caribbean heritage in London and for those of Surinamese and Dutch Antillean heritage in Amsterdam.
Psychiatric hospitalization among offenders: a retrospective study in the acute psychiatric ward in Monza, Italy
- M. Provenzi, L. M. Affaticati, G. Carrara, C. L. Di Forti, D. Viganò, M. Clerici
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S430-S431
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Introduction
The closure of forensic psychiatric hospitals and the conversion to a residential model of care based on secure residential units in the community (REMS) has made Italy the first and only country in the world to have followed the principles of the deinstitutionalization movement. Following the reform, several management issues have emerged, such as the creation of long waiting lists for admission to REMS. Improper hospitalization in Acute Psychiatric Units (SPDC) has often been used to address this issue. In addition, the handover of inmates’ care to Mental Health Departments (DSMD’s) has posed further challenges. To date, the field has received little attention from international literature.
ObjectivesDescription and analysis of a sample of offender inpatients hospitalized in an acute psychiatric unit.
MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study including male offenders admitted to the SPDC of San Gerardo Hospital (ASST Monza), between January 2007 and September 2022. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS.
Results120 male offenders were included for a total of 204 admissions. 98 offenders (81.7%) were hospitalized once. We observed an absolute (N=1; N=30) and percentage (0.2%;12%) increase in the number of hospitalized offenders per year during the time period under study. Jail was the main provenance in the sample (46.6%), followed by residential care facilities (27%) and the psychiatric observation unit (ROP) of Monza’s jail (10.8%). The two most prevalent diagnoses were personality disorders (37.5%) and psychosis (39.2%). In addition, 66 subjects (55%) had a history of substance abuse. The average duration of hospitalization was 19.45 days; it increased to 77 days for inpatients waiting to be transferred to REMS. Hetero-aggressive behavior as the reason for admission was associated with longer hospitalization (p=0.031), while attempted suicide correlated to shorter hospital stay (p=0.032). Out of the 55 offenders who attempted suicide, 41 came from jail (74.5%). Finally, longer hospitalizations were associated with an increased number of adverse events (p=0.001).
ConclusionsPsychiatric hospitalizations of offenders have increased over the last years. This population tends to require longer hospital stays (regional average of SPDC hospitalization in Lombardy: 14 days), which are even lengthier for inpatients destined to REMS. Longer hospitalizations exert a large burden on DSMD’s and impact the general health of patients, exposing them to a higher risk of adverse events. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to develop better strategies for the management and care of offender patients.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Cannabis use as a potential mediator between childhood adversity and first-episode psychosis: results from the EU-GEI case–control study
- Giulia Trotta, Victoria Rodriguez, Diego Quattrone, Edoardo Spinazzola, Giada Tripoli, Charlotte Gayer-Anderson, Tom P Freeman, Hannah E Jongsma, Lucia Sideli, Monica Aas, Simona A Stilo, Caterina La Cascia, Laura Ferraro, Daniele La Barbera, Antonio Lasalvia, Sarah Tosato, Ilaria Tarricone, Giuseppe D'Andrea, Andrea Tortelli, Franck Schürhoff, Andrei Szöke, Baptiste Pignon, Jean-Paul Selten, Eva Velthorst, Lieuwe de Haan, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Paulo Rossi Menezes, Cristina M Del Ben, Jose Luis Santos, Manuel Arrojo, Julio Bobes, Julio Sanjuán, Miquel Bernardo, Celso Arango, James B Kirkbride, Peter B Jones, Alexander Richards, Bart P Rutten, Jim Van Os, Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman, Zhikun Li, Craig Morgan, Pak C Sham, Evangelos Vassos, Chloe Wong, Richard Bentall, Helen L Fisher, Robin M Murray, Luis Alameda, Marta Di Forti, EU-GEI WP2 Group
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 53 / Issue 15 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 May 2023, pp. 7375-7384
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Background
Childhood adversity and cannabis use are considered independent risk factors for psychosis, but whether different patterns of cannabis use may be acting as mediator between adversity and psychotic disorders has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to examine whether cannabis use mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis.
MethodsData were utilised on 881 first-episode psychosis patients and 1231 controls from the European network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Detailed history of cannabis use was collected with the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire. The Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire was used to assess exposure to household discord, sexual, physical or emotional abuse and bullying in two periods: early (0–11 years), and late (12–17 years). A path decomposition method was used to analyse whether the association between childhood adversity and psychosis was mediated by (1) lifetime cannabis use, (2) cannabis potency and (3) frequency of use.
ResultsThe association between household discord and psychosis was partially mediated by lifetime use of cannabis (indirect effect coef. 0.078, s.e. 0.022, 17%), its potency (indirect effect coef. 0.059, s.e. 0.018, 14%) and by frequency (indirect effect coef. 0.117, s.e. 0.038, 29%). Similar findings were obtained when analyses were restricted to early exposure to household discord.
ConclusionsHarmful patterns of cannabis use mediated the association between specific childhood adversities, like household discord, with later psychosis. Children exposed to particularly challenging environments in their household could benefit from psychosocial interventions aimed at preventing cannabis misuse.
Tobacco use in first-episode psychosis, a multinational EU-GEI study
- T. Sánchez-Gutiérrez, E. Rodríguez-Toscano, L. Roldán, L. Ferraro, M. Parellada, A. Calvo, G. López, M. Rapado-Castro, D. La Barbera, C. La Cascia, G. Tripoli, M. Di Forti, R. M. Murray, D. Quattrone, C. Morgan, J. van Os, P. García-Portilla, S. Al-Halabí, J. Bobes, L. de Haan, M. Bernardo, J. L. Santos, J. Sanjuán, M. Arrojo, A. Ferchiou, A. Szoke, B. P. Rutten, S. Stilo, G. D'Andrea, I. Tarricone, EU-GEI WP2 Group, C. M. Díaz-Caneja, C. Arango
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- Psychological Medicine / Volume 53 / Issue 15 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 26 April 2023, pp. 7265-7276
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Background
Tobacco is a highly prevalent substance of abuse in patients with psychosis. Previous studies have reported an association between tobacco use and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between tobacco use and first-episode psychosis (FEP), age at onset of psychosis, and specific diagnosis of psychosis.
MethodsThe sample consisted of 1105 FEP patients and 1355 controls from the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. We assessed substance use with the Tobacco and Alcohol Questionnaire and performed a series of regression analyses using case-control status, age of onset of psychosis, and diagnosis as outcomes and tobacco use and frequency of tobacco use as predictors. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol, and cannabis use.
ResultsAfter controlling for cannabis use, FEP patients were 2.6 times more likely to use tobacco [p ⩽ 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.1–3.2]] and 1.7 times more likely to smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day (p = 0.003; AOR 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.4]) than controls. Tobacco use was associated with an earlier age at psychosis onset (β = −2.3; p ⩽ 0.001; 95% CI [−3.7 to −0.9]) and was 1.3 times more frequent in FEP patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia than in other diagnoses of psychosis (AOR 1.3; 95% CI [1.0–1.8]); however, these results were no longer significant after controlling for cannabis use.
ConclusionsTobacco and heavy-tobacco use are associated with increased odds of FEP. These findings further support the relevance of tobacco prevention in young populations.
Genetic and psychosocial stressors have independent effects on the level of subclinical psychosis: findings from the multinational EU-GEI study
- B. Pignon, H. Peyre, A. Ayrolles, J. B. Kirkbride, S. Jamain, A. Ferchiou, J. R. Richard, G. Baudin, S. Tosato, H. Jongsma, L. de Haan, I. Tarricone, M. Bernardo, E. Velthorst, M. Braca, C. Arango, M. Arrojo, J. Bobes, C. M. Del-Ben, M. Di Forti, C. Gayer-Anderson, P. B. Jones, C. La Cascia, A. Lasalvia, P. R. Menezes, D. Quattrone, J. Sanjuán, J. P. Selten, A. Tortelli, P. M. Llorca, J. van Os, B. P. F. Rutten, R. M. Murray, C. Morgan, M. Leboyer, A. Szöke, F. Schürhoff
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- Journal:
- Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences / Volume 31 / 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 27 September 2022, e68
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Aims
Gene x environment (G×E) interactions, i.e. genetic modulation of the sensitivity to environmental factors and/or environmental control of the gene expression, have not been reliably established regarding aetiology of psychotic disorders. Moreover, recent studies have shown associations between the polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia (PRS-SZ) and some risk factors of psychotic disorders, challenging the traditional gene v. environment dichotomy. In the present article, we studied the role of GxE interaction between psychosocial stressors (childhood trauma, stressful life-events, self-reported discrimination experiences and low social capital) and the PRS-SZ on subclinical psychosis in a population-based sample.
MethodsData were drawn from the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study, in which subjects without psychotic disorders were included in six countries. The sample was restricted to European descendant subjects (n = 706). Subclinical dimensions of psychosis (positive, negative, and depressive) were measured by the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) scale. Associations between the PRS-SZ and the psychosocial stressors were tested. For each dimension, the interactions between genes and environment were assessed using linear models and comparing explained variances of ‘Genetic’ models (solely fitted with PRS-SZ), ‘Environmental’ models (solely fitted with each environmental stressor), ‘Independent’ models (with PRS-SZ and each environmental factor), and ‘Interaction’ models (Independent models plus an interaction term between the PRS-SZ and each environmental factor). Likelihood ration tests (LRT) compared the fit of the different models.
ResultsThere were no genes-environment associations. PRS-SZ was associated with positive dimensions (β = 0.092, R2 = 7.50%), and most psychosocial stressors were associated with all three subclinical psychotic dimensions (except social capital and positive dimension). Concerning the positive dimension, Independent models fitted better than Environmental and Genetic models. No significant GxE interaction was observed for any dimension.
ConclusionsThis study in subjects without psychotic disorders suggests that (i) the aetiological continuum hypothesis could concern particularly the positive dimension of subclinical psychosis, (ii) genetic and environmental factors have independent effects on the level of this positive dimension, (iii) and that interactions between genetic and individual environmental factors could not be identified in this sample.
Skunk and psychosis in South East London
- M. Di Forti, C. Morgan, V. Mondelli, L. Gittens, R. Handley, N. Hepgul, S. Luzi, T. Marques, M. Aas, S. Masson, C. Prescott, M. Russo, P. Sood, B. Wiffen, P. Papili, P. Dazzan, C. Pariante, K. Aitchison, J. Powell, R. Murray
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 24 / Issue S1 / January 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 April 2020, 24-E34
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Background:
Epidemiological studies have reported that the increased risk of developing psychosis in cannabis users is dose related. In addition, experimental research has shown that the active constituent of cannabis responsible for its psychotogenic effect is Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Murray et al, 2007). Recent evidence has suggested an increased in potency (% TCH) in the cannabis seized in the UK (Potter et al, 2007).
Hypothesis:We predicted that first episode psychosis patients are more likely to use higher potency cannabis and more frequently than controls.
Methods:We collected information concerning socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and cannabis use (age at first use, frequency, length of use, type of cannabis used) from a sample of 191 first-episode psychosis patients and 120 matched healthy volunteers. All were recruited as part of the Genetic and Psychosis (GAP) study which studied all patients who presented to the South London and Maudsley Trust.
Results:There was no significant difference in the life-time prevalence of cannabis use or age at first use between cases and controls. However, cases were more likely to be regular users (p=0.05), to be current users (p=0.04) and to have smoked cannabis for longer (p=0.01). Among cannabis users, 86.8% of 1st Episode Psychosis Patients preferentially used Skunk/Sinsemilla compared to 27.7% of Controls. Only 13.2 % of 1st Episode psychosis Patients chose to use Resin/Hash compared to 76.3% of controls. The concentration of TCH in these in South East London, ranges between 8.5 and 14 % (Potter et al, 2007). Controls (47%) were more likely to use Hash (Resin) whose average TCH concentration is 3.4% (Potter et al, 2007).
Conclusions:Patients with first episode psychosis have smoked higher potency cannabis, for longer and with greater frequency, than healthy controls.
Failure to find association between childhood abuse and cognition in first-episode psychosis patients
- L. Sideli, H.L. Fisher, M. Russo, R.M. Murray, S.A. Stilo, B.D.R. Wiffen, J.A. O’Connor, M. Aurora Falcone, S.M. Pintore, L. Ferraro, A. Mule’, D. La Barbera, C. Morgan, M. Di Forti
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 29 / Issue 1 / January 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 April 2020, pp. 32-35
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This study investigated the relationship between severe childhood abuse and cognitive functions in first-episode psychosis patients and geographically-matched controls. Reports of any abuse were associated with lower scores in the executive function domain in the control group. However, in contrast with our hypothesis, no relationships were found amongst cases.
Premorbid social adjustment is better in cannabis-using than non-using psychotic patients across Europe
- L. Ferraro, V. Capuccio, A. Mulè, C. La Cascia, L. Sideli, G. Tripoli, F. Seminerio, C. Sartorio, D. La Barbera, R. Murray, M. Di Forti
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 33 / Issue S1 / March 2016
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 March 2020, p. S102
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Introduction
A number of authors have hypothesized that psychotic patients who consume cannabis constitute a differentiated subgroup of patients that have better cognitive and social skills, necessary to engage in illegal drug consumption, than non-using patients.
ObjectivesGiven that the prevalence, and patterns, of cannabis use are culturally driven, we wanted to study first-episode psychosis (FEP) cannabis-using and non-using patients coming from different European countries as part of the EUGEI-STUDY.
AimsWe tested the hypothesis of better premorbid social adjustment in cannabis-using FEP patients, by comparing them to FEP non cannabis users and to their respective healthy controls.
MethodsA total of 1745 people (746 cases; 999 controls) completed the assessment for premorbid adjustment [Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS)] and cannabis use (CEQ-Revised). We first extracted the Premorbid Social Adjustment Factor (PSA) from PAS and then performedlinear mixed models with PSA as dependent variable and cannabis lifetime (Yes/No) and subject status (Cases/Controls) as independent variables. We then considered “Country” as random intercept.
ResultsAcross all countries, PSA scores were better in patients who had smoked cannabis in their lifetime than patients who had not (P = 0.009). The difference in PSA score between cannabis users and non-users was significantly greater in cases than controls (P = 0.038). The relationship between PSA, cannabis lifetime (Yes/No) and subject status among nations (random intercept) is shown on Fig. 1.
ConclusionsCannabis-using psychotic patients show better premorbid social adjustment than non-using patients, across 5 European countries.
Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology at first episode psychosis: findings from the multinational EU-GEI study
- Diego Quattrone, Marta Di Forti, Charlotte Gayer-Anderson, Laura Ferraro, Hannah E Jongsma, Giada Tripoli, Caterina La Cascia, Daniele La Barbera, Ilaria Tarricone, Domenico Berardi, Andrei Szöke, Celso Arango, Antonio Lasalvia, Andrea Tortelli, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Lieuwe de Haan, Eva Velthorst, Julio Bobes, Miguel Bernardo, Julio Sanjuán, Jose Luis Santos, Manuel Arrojo, Cristina Marta Del-Ben, Paulo Rossi Menezes, Jean-Paul Selten, EU-GEI WP2 Group, Peter B Jones, James B Kirkbride, Alexander L Richards, Michael C O'Donovan, Pak C Sham, Evangelos Vassos, Bart PF Rutten, Jim van Os, Craig Morgan, Cathryn M Lewis, Robin M Murray, Ulrich Reininghaus
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- Psychological Medicine / Volume 49 / Issue 8 / June 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 October 2018, pp. 1378-1391
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Background
The value of the nosological distinction between non-affective and affective psychosis has frequently been challenged. We aimed to investigate the transdiagnostic dimensional structure and associated characteristics of psychopathology at First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Regardless of diagnostic categories, we expected that positive symptoms occurred more frequently in ethnic minority groups and in more densely populated environments, and that negative symptoms were associated with indices of neurodevelopmental impairment.
MethodThis study included 2182 FEP individuals recruited across six countries, as part of the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Symptom ratings were analysed using multidimensional item response modelling in Mplus to estimate five theory-based models of psychosis. We used multiple regression models to examine demographic and context factors associated with symptom dimensions.
ResultsA bifactor model, composed of one general factor and five specific dimensions of positive, negative, disorganization, manic and depressive symptoms, best-represented associations among ratings of psychotic symptoms. Positive symptoms were more common in ethnic minority groups. Urbanicity was associated with a higher score on the general factor. Men presented with more negative and less depressive symptoms than women. Early age-at-first-contact with psychiatric services was associated with higher scores on negative, disorganized, and manic symptom dimensions.
ConclusionsOur results suggest that the bifactor model of psychopathology holds across diagnostic categories of non-affective and affective psychosis at FEP, and demographic and context determinants map onto general and specific symptom dimensions. These findings have implications for tailoring symptom-specific treatments and inform research into the mood-psychosis spectrum.
Associations between psychosis endophenotypes across brain functional, structural, and cognitive domains
- R. Blakey, S. Ranlund, E. Zartaloudi, W. Cahn, S. Calafato, M. Colizzi, B. Crespo-Facorro, C. Daniel, Á. Díez-Revuelta, M. Di Forti, GROUP, C. Iyegbe, A. Jablensky, R. Jones, M.-H. Hall, R. Kahn, L. Kalaydjieva, E. Kravariti, K. Lin, C. McDonald, A. M. McIntosh, PEIC, M. Picchioni, J. Powell, A. Presman, D. Rujescu, K. Schulze, M. Shaikh, J. H. Thygesen, T. Toulopoulou, N. Van Haren, J. Van Os, M. Walshe, WTCCC2, R. M. Murray, E. Bramon
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 48 / Issue 8 / June 2018
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 November 2017, pp. 1325-1340
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Background
A range of endophenotypes characterise psychosis, however there has been limited work understanding if and how they are inter-related.
MethodsThis multi-centre study includes 8754 participants: 2212 people with a psychotic disorder, 1487 unaffected relatives of probands, and 5055 healthy controls. We investigated cognition [digit span (N = 3127), block design (N = 5491), and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (N = 3543)], electrophysiology [P300 amplitude and latency (N = 1102)], and neuroanatomy [lateral ventricular volume (N = 1721)]. We used linear regression to assess the interrelationships between endophenotypes.
ResultsThe P300 amplitude and latency were not associated (regression coef. −0.06, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.01, p = 0.060), and P300 amplitude was positively associated with block design (coef. 0.19, 95% CI 0.10–0.28, p < 0.001). There was no evidence of associations between lateral ventricular volume and the other measures (all p > 0.38). All the cognitive endophenotypes were associated with each other in the expected directions (all p < 0.001). Lastly, the relationships between pairs of endophenotypes were consistent in all three participant groups, differing for some of the cognitive pairings only in the strengths of the relationships.
ConclusionsThe P300 amplitude and latency are independent endophenotypes; the former indexing spatial visualisation and working memory, and the latter is hypothesised to index basic processing speed. Individuals with psychotic illnesses, their unaffected relatives, and healthy controls all show similar patterns of associations between endophenotypes, endorsing the theory of a continuum of psychosis liability across the population.
Impact of childhood adversities on specific symptom dimensions in first-episode psychosis
- O. Ajnakina, A. Trotta, E. Oakley-Hannibal, M. Di Forti, S. A. Stilo, A. Kolliakou, P. Gardner-Sood, F. Gaughran, A. S. David, P. Dazzan, C. Pariante, V. Mondelli, C. Morgan, E. Vassos, R. M. Murray, H. L. Fisher
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- Psychological Medicine / Volume 46 / Issue 2 / January 2016
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 September 2015, pp. 317-326
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Background
The relationship between childhood adversity (CA) and psychotic disorder is well documented. As the adequacy of the current categorical diagnosis of psychosis is being increasingly questioned, we explored independent associations between different types of CA and specific psychotic symptom dimensions in a well-characterized sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients.
MethodThis study involved 236 FEP cases aged 18–65 years who presented for the first time to psychiatric services in South London, UK. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the statistical fit of the Wallwork/Fortgang five-factor model of psychosis. CA prior to 17 years of age (physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental separation, parental death, and being taken into care) was retrospectively assessed using the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire.
ResultsChildhood sexual abuse [β = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40–1.52], childhood physical abuse (β = 0.48, 95% CI 0.03–0.93) and parental separation (β = 0.60, 95% CI 0.10–1.11) showed significant associations with the positive dimension; while being taken into care was associated with the excited dimension (β = 0.36, 95% CI 0.08–0.65), independent of the other types of CA. No significant associations were found between parental death and any of the symptom dimensions.
ConclusionsA degree of specificity was found in the relationships between different types of CA and psychosis symptom dimensions in adulthood, suggesting that distinct pathways may be involved in the CA–psychosis association. These potentially different routes to developing psychosis merit further empirical and theoretical exploration.
Abnormal cortisol awakening response predicts worse cognitive function in patients with first-episode psychosis
- M. Aas, P. Dazzan, V. Mondelli, T. Toulopoulou, A. Reichenberg, M. Di Forti, H. L. Fisher, R. Handley, N. Hepgul, T. Marques, A. Miorelli, H. Taylor, M. Russo, B. Wiffen, A. Papadopoulos, K. J. Aitchison, C. Morgan, R. M. Murray, C. M. Pariante
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 41 / Issue 3 / March 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 June 2010, pp. 463-476
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Background
Cognitive impairment, particularly in memory and executive function, is a core feature of psychosis. Moreover, psychosis is characterized by a more prominent history of stress exposure, and by dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. In turn, stress exposure and abnormal levels of the main HPA axis hormone cortisol are associated with cognitive impairments in a variety of clinical and experimental samples; however, this association has never been examined in first-episode psychosis (FEP).
MethodIn this study, 30 FEP patients and 26 controls completed assessment of the HPA axis (cortisol awakening response and cortisol levels during the day), perceived stress, recent life events, history of childhood trauma, and cognitive function. The neuropsychological battery comprised general cognitive function, verbal and non-verbal memory, executive function, perception, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, and general knowledge.
ResultsPatients performed significantly worse on all cognitive domains compared to controls. In patients only, a more blunted cortisol awakening response (that is, more abnormal) was associated with a more severe deficit in verbal memory and processing speed. In controls only, higher levels of perceived stress and more recent life events were associated with a worse performance in executive function and perception and visuospatial abilities.
ConclusionsThese data support a role for the HPA axis, as measured by cortisol awakening response, in modulating cognitive function in patients with psychosis; however, this association does not seem to be related to the increased exposure to psychosocial stressors described in these patients.
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