159 results
The association of adverse childhood experiences with long-term outcomes of psychosis: a 21-year prospective cohort study after a first episode of psychosis
- Victor Peralta, Elena García de Jalón, Lucía Moreno-Izco, David Peralta, Lucía Janda, Ana M. Sánchez-Torres, Manuel J. Cuesta, SEGPEPs group
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 May 2024, pp. 1-10
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background
Evidence suggests a possible relationship between exposure to childhood adversity (CA) and functional impairment in psychosis. However, the impact of CA on long-term outcomes of psychotic disorders remains poorly understood.
MethodsTwo hundred and forty-three patients were assessed at their first episode of psychosis for CA and re-assessed after a mean of 21 years of follow-up for several outcome domains, including symptoms, functioning, quality of life, cognitive performance, neurological dysfunction, and comorbidity. The unique predictive ability of CA exposure for outcomes was examined using linear regression analysis controlling for relevant confounders, including socioeconomic status, family risk of schizophrenia, and obstetric complications.
ResultsThere were 54% of the patients with a documented history of CA at mild or higher levels. CA experiences were more prevalent and severe in schizophrenia than in other psychotic disorders (p < 0.001). Large to very large effect sizes were observed for CA predicting most role functioning variables and negative symptoms (ΔR2 between 0.105 and 0.181). Moderate effect sizes were observed for positive symptoms, personal functioning, impaired social cognition, impaired immediate verbal learning, poor global cognition, internalized stigma, poor personal recovery, and drug abuse severity (ΔR2 between 0.040 and 0.066). A dose–response relationship was observed between levels of CA and severity of outcome domains.
ConclusionOur results suggest a strong and widespread link between early adversity exposure and outcomes of psychotic disorders. Awareness of the serious long-term consequences of CA should encourage better identification of those at risk and the development of effective interventions.
TwinsMX: Exploring the Genetic and Environmental Influences on Health Traits in the Mexican Population
- Brisa García-Vilchis, Talia V. Román-López, Diego Ramírez-González, Xanat J. López-Camaño, Vanessa Murillo-Lechuga, Xóchitl Díaz-Téllez, C. Itzamná Sánchez-Moncada, Ian M. Espinosa-Méndez, Diego Zenteno-Morales, Zaida X. Espinosa-Valdes, Sofia Pradel-Jiménez, Andrea Tapia-Atilano, Ana V. Zanabria-Pérez, Federica Livas-Gangas, Oscar Aldana-Assad, Ulises Caballero-Sánchez, César A. Dominguez-Frausto, Miguel E. Rentería, Alejandra Medina-Rivera, Sarael Alcauter, Alejandra E. Ruiz-Contreras
-
- Journal:
- Twin Research and Human Genetics / Volume 27 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 03 May 2024, pp. 85-96
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
TwinsMX registry is a national research initiative in Mexico that aims to understand the complex interplay between genetics and environment in shaping physical and mental health traits among the country’s population. With a multidisciplinary approach, TwinsMX aims to advance our knowledge of the genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying ethnic variations in complex traits and diseases, including behavioral, psychometric, anthropometric, metabolic, cardiovascular and mental disorders. With information gathered from over 2800 twins, this article updates the prevalence of several complex traits; and describes the advances and novel ideas we have implemented such as magnetic resonance imaging. The future expansion of the TwinsMX registry will enhance our comprehension of the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in shaping health and disease in the Mexican population. Overall, this report describes the progress in the building of a solid database that will allow the study of complex traits in the Mexican population, valuable not only for our consortium, but also for the worldwide scientific community, by providing new insights of understudied genetically admixed populations.
Additive effects of a family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and an environmental risk score for the outcome of patients with non-affective first-episode psychosis
- Manuel J. Cuesta, Elena García de Jalón, Ana M. Sánchez-Torres, Gustavo J. Gil-Berrozpe, Lidia Aranguren, Gerardo Gutierrez, Asier Corrales, Amalia Zarzuela, Berta Ibañez, Víctor Peralta, PEPsNa Group
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 March 2024, pp. 1-9
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background:
First-episode psychotic disorders comprise a heterogeneous phenotype with a complex etiology involving numerous common small-effect genetic variations and a wide range of environmental exposures. We examined whether a family of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (FH-Sz) interacts with an environmental risk score (ERS-Sz) regarding the outcome of patients with non-affective first episode psychosis (NAFEP).
Methods:We included 288 patients with NAFEP who were evaluated after discharge from an intensive 2-year program. We evaluated three outcome measures: symptomatic remission, psychosocial functioning, and personal recovery. We analyzed the main and joint associations of a FH-Sz and the ERS-Sz on the outcomes by using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) approach.
Results:A FH-Sz showed a significant association with poor symptomatic remission and psychosocial functioning outcomes, although there was no significant interaction between a FH-Sz and the ERS-Sz on these outcomes. The ERS-Sz did not show a significant association with poor symptomatic remission and psychosocial functioning outcomes, even though the magnitude of the interaction between ERS-Sz and FH-Sz with the later outcome was moderate (RERI = 6.89, 95% confidence interval −16.03 to 29.81). There was no association between a FH-Sz and the ERS-Sz and personal recovery.
Conclusions:Our results provide further empirical support regarding the contribution of FH-Sz to poor symptomatic remission and poor psychosocial functioning outcomes in patients with NAFEP.
Somatic multicomorbidity and disability in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population: a quasi-epidemiological investigation in 54,826 subjects from 40 countries (COMET-G study)
- Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis, Grigorios N. Karakatsoulis, Seri Abraham, Kristina Adorjan, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Renato D. Alarcón, Kiyomi Arai, Sani Salihu Auwal, Michael Berk, Sarah Bjedov, Julio Bobes, Teresa Bobes-Bascaran, Julie Bourgin-Duchesnay, Cristina Ana Bredicean, Laurynas Bukelskis, Akaki Burkadze, Indira Indiana Cabrera Abud, Ruby Castilla-Puentes, Marcelo Cetkovich, Hector Colon-Rivera, Ricardo Corral, Carla Cortez-Vergara, Piirika Crepin, Domenico De Berardis, Sergio Zamora Delgado, David De Lucena, Avinash De Sousa, Ramona Di Stefano, Seetal Dodd, Livia Priyanka Elek, Anna Elissa, Berta Erdelyi-Hamza, Gamze Erzin, Martin J. Etchevers, Peter Falkai, Adriana Farcas, Ilya Fedotov, Viktoriia Filatova, Nikolaos K. Fountoulakis, Iryna Frankova, Francesco Franza, Pedro Frias, Tatiana Galako, Cristian J. Garay, Leticia Garcia-Álvarez, Maria Paz García-Portilla, Xenia Gonda, Tomasz M. Gondek, Daniela Morera González, Hilary Gould, Paolo Grandinetti, Arturo Grau, Violeta Groudeva, Michal Hagin, Takayuki Harada, Tasdik M. Hasan, Nurul Azreen Hashim, Jan Hilbig, Sahadat Hossain, Rossitza Iakimova, Mona Ibrahim, Felicia Iftene, Yulia Ignatenko, Matias Irarrazaval, Zaliha Ismail, Jamila Ismayilova, Asaf Jakobs, Miro Jakovljević, Nenad Jakšić, Afzal Javed, Helin Yilmaz Kafali, Sagar Karia, Olga Kazakova, Doaa Khalifa, Olena Khaustova, Steve Koh, Svetlana Kopishinskaia, Korneliia Kosenko, Sotirios A. Koupidis, Illes Kovacs, Barbara Kulig, Alisha Lalljee, Justine Liewig, Abdul Majid, Evgeniia Malashonkova, Khamelia Malik, Najma Iqbal Malik, Gulay Mammadzada, Bilvesh Mandalia, Donatella Marazziti, Darko Marčinko, Stephanie Martinez, Eimantas Matiekus, Gabriela Mejia, Roha Saeed Memon, Xarah Elenne Meza Martínez, Dalia Mickevičiūtė, Roumen Milev, Muftau Mohammed, Alejandro Molina-López, Petr Morozov, Nuru Suleiman Muhammad, Filip Mustač, Mika S. Naor, Amira Nassieb, Alvydas Navickas, Tarek Okasha, Milena Pandova, Anca-Livia Panfil, Liliya Panteleeva, Ion Papava, Mikaella E. Patsali, Alexey Pavlichenko, Bojana Pejuskovic, Mariana Pinto Da Costa, Mikhail Popkov, Dina Popovic, Nor Jannah Nasution Raduan, Francisca Vargas Ramírez, Elmars Rancans, Salmi Razali, Federico Rebok, Anna Rewekant, Elena Ninoska Reyes Flores, María Teresa Rivera-Encinas, Pilar Saiz, Manuel Sánchez de Carmona, David Saucedo Martínez, Jo Anne Saw, Görkem Saygili, Patricia Schneidereit, Bhumika Shah, Tomohiro Shirasaka, Ketevan Silagadze, Satti Sitanggang, Oleg Skugarevsky, Anna Spikina, Sridevi Sira Mahalingappa, Maria Stoyanova, Anna Szczegielniak, Simona Claudia Tamasan, Giuseppe Tavormina, Maurilio Giuseppe Maria Tavormina, Pavlos N. Theodorakis, Mauricio Tohen, Eva Maria Tsapakis, Dina Tukhvatullina, Irfan Ullah, Ratnaraj Vaidya, Johann M. Vega-Dienstmaier, Jelena Vrublevska, Olivera Vukovic, Olga Vysotska, Natalia Widiasih, Anna Yashikhina, Panagiotis E. Prezerakos, Daria Smirnova
-
- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 29 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 January 2024, pp. 126-149
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Background
The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders.
MethodsThe sample included 54,826 subjects (64.73% females; 34.15% males; 1.11% nonbinary gender) from 40 countries (COMET-G study). The analysis was based on the registration of previous history that could serve as a fair approximation for the lifetime prevalence of various medical conditions.
ResultsAbout 24.5% reported a history of somatic and 26.14% of mental disorders. Mental disorders were by far the most prevalent group of medical conditions. Comorbidity of any somatic with any mental disorder was reported by 8.21%. One-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients were also suffering from a mental disorder depending on the severity and multicomorbidity. Bipolar and psychotic patients and to a lesser extent depressives, manifested an earlier (15–20 years) manifestation of somatic multicomorbidity, severe disability, and probably earlier death. The overwhelming majority of patients with mental disorders were not receiving treatment or were being treated in a way that was not recommended. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
ConclusionsThe finding that one-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients also suffered from a mental disorder strongly suggests that psychiatry is the field with the most trans-specialty and interdisciplinary value and application points to the importance of teaching psychiatry and mental health in medical schools and also to the need for more technocratically oriented training of psychiatric residents.
Difficulties during delivery, brain ventricle enlargement and cognitive impairment in first episode psychosis
- Ana Costas-Carrera, Norma Verdolini, Clemente Garcia-Rizo, Gisela Mezquida, Joost Janssen, Isabel Valli, Iluminada Corripio, Ana M. Sanchez-Torres, Miquel Bioque, Antonio Lobo, Ana Gonzalez-Pinto, Marta Rapado-Castro, Eduard Vieta, Helena De la Serna, Anna Mane, Alexandra Roldan, Nicolas Crossley, Rafael Penades, Manuel J. Cuesta, Mara Parellada, Miquel Bernardo, PEPs group
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 54 / Issue 7 / May 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 28 November 2023, pp. 1339-1349
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Background
Patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) display clinical, cognitive, and structural brain abnormalities at illness onset. Ventricular enlargement has been identified in schizophrenia since the initial development of neuroimaging techniques. Obstetric abnormalities have been associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis but also with cognitive impairment and brain structure abnormalities. Difficulties during delivery are associated with a higher risk of birth asphyxia leading to brain structural abnormalities, such as ventriculomegaly, which has been related to cognitive disturbances.
MethodsWe examined differences in ventricular size between 142 FEP patients and 123 healthy control participants using magnetic resonance imaging. Obstetric complications were evaluated using the Lewis–Murray scale. We examined the impact of obstetric difficulties during delivery on ventricle size as well as the possible relationship between ventricle size and cognitive impairment in both groups.
ResultsFEP patients displayed significantly larger third ventricle size compared with healthy controls. Third ventricle enlargement was associated with diagnosis (higher volume in patients), with difficulties during delivery (higher volume in subjects with difficulties), and was highest in patients with difficulties during delivery. Verbal memory was significantly associated with third ventricle to brain ratio.
ConclusionsOur results suggest that difficulties during delivery might be significant contributors to the ventricular enlargement historically described in schizophrenia. Thus, obstetric complications may contribute to the development of psychosis through changes in brain architecture.
Long-term diagnostic stability, predictors of diagnostic change, and time until diagnostic change of first-episode psychosis: a 21-year follow-up study
- David Peralta, Lucía Janda, Elena García de Jalón, Lucía Moreno-Izco, Ana M. Sánchez-Torres, Manuel J. Cuesta, Victor Peralta, SEGPEPs Group
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 54 / Issue 7 / May 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 November 2023, pp. 1329-1338
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background
Although diagnostic instability in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is of major concern, little is known about its determinants. This very long-term follow-up study aimed to examine the diagnostic stability of FEP diagnoses, the baseline predictors of diagnostic change and the timing of diagnostic change.
MethodsThis was a longitudinal and naturalistic study of 243 subjects with FEP who were assessed at baseline and reassessed after a mean follow-up of 21 years. The diagnostic stability of DSM-5 psychotic disorders was examined using prospective and retrospective consistencies, logistic regression was used to establish the predictors of diagnostic change, and survival analysis was used to compare time to diagnostic change across diagnostic categories.
ResultsThe overall diagnostic stability was 47.7%. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were the most stable diagnoses, with other categories having low stability. Predictors of diagnostic change to schizophrenia included a family history of schizophrenia, obstetric complications, developmental delay, poor premorbid functioning in several domains, long duration of untreated continuous psychosis, spontaneous dyskinesia, lack of psychosocial stressors, longer duration of index admission, and poor early treatment response. Most of these variables also predicted diagnostic change to bipolar disorder but in the opposite direction and with lesser effect sizes. There were no significant differences between specific diagnoses regarding time to diagnostic change. At 10-year follow-up, around 80% of the diagnoses had changed.
ConclusionsFEP diagnoses other than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder should be considered as provisional. Considering baseline predictors of diagnostic change may help to enhance diagnostic accuracy and guide therapeutic interventions.
Using rational surfaces to improve pellet fuelling in stellarators
- N. Panadero, K. J. McCarthy, B. Pégourié, R. Carrasco, I. García-Cortés, R. García, J. Hernández-Sánchez, F. Köchl, J. Martínez-Fernández, R. Sakamoto, the TJ-II team
-
- Journal:
- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 89 / Issue 6 / December 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 November 2023, 955890601
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Pellet injection is currently the primary candidate for achieving efficient plasma fuelling, one of the key issues for steady-state operation in large fusion devices. In this paper, pellet injection experiments are performed for several magnetic configurations of the TJ-II stellarator. The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of the role played by rational surfaces in plasmoid drift and deposition profiles in stellarators. The analysis of experimentally observed plasmoid drifts is supported by simulations of such cases made with the HPI2 code. Plasmoid drift is found to be significantly reduced, as in tokamaks, in the vicinity of rational surfaces. This is attributed to the fact that plasmoid external charge reconnection lengths are shorter near rational surfaces, resulting in a more effective damping of the plasmoid drift. Although the effect of plasmoid external currents on the drift is expected to be negligible in stellarators, compared with those caused by plasmoid internal currents, the effect observed in TJ-II is clearly measurable. In addition, simulations show that enhanced drift reductions near rational surfaces lead to significantly different deposition profiles for the magnetic configurations included in this study. This implies that it should be possible to select the magnetic configurations to obtain more efficient pellet fuelling.
Coronavirus disease 2019 is associated with long-term depressive symptoms in Spanish older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Sangeetha Shyam, Carlos Gómez-Martínez, Indira Paz-Graniel, José J. Gaforio, Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, Dolores Corella, Montserrat Fitó, J. Alfredo Martínez, Ángel M. Alonso-Gómez, Julia Wärnberg, Jesús Vioque, Dora Romaguera, José López-Miranda, Ramon Estruch, Francisco J. Tinahones, José Manuel Santos-Lozano, J. Luís Serra-Majem, Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas, Josep A. Tur, Vicente Martín Sánchez, Xavier Pintó, María Ortiz Ramos, Josep Vidal, Maria Mar Alcarria, Lidia Daimiel, Emilio Ros, Fernando Fernandez-Aranda, Stephanie K. Nishi, Oscar García Regata, Estefania Toledo, Jose V. Sorli, Olga Castañer, Antonio Garcia-Rios, Rafael Valls-Enguix, Napoleon Perez-Farinos, M. Angeles Zulet, Elena Rayó-Gago, Rosa Casas, Mario Rivera-Izquierdo, Lucas Tojal-Sierra, Miguel Damas-Fuentes, Pilar Buil-Cosiales, Rebeca Fernández-Carrion, Albert Goday, Patricia J. Peña-Orihuela, Laura Compañ-Gabucio, Javier Diez-Espino, Susanna Tello, Ana González-Pinto, Víctor de la O, Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez, Nancy Babio, Jordi Salas-Salvadó
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 54 / Issue 3 / February 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 05 September 2023, pp. 620-630
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has serious physiological and psychological consequences. The long-term (>12 weeks post-infection) impact of COVID-19 on mental health, specifically in older adults, is unclear. We longitudinally assessed the association of COVID-19 with depression symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults with metabolic syndrome within the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus cohort.
MethodsParticipants (n = 5486) aged 55–75 years were included in this longitudinal cohort. COVID-19 status (positive/negative) determined by tests (e.g. polymerase chain reaction severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, IgG) was confirmed via event adjudication (410 cases). Pre- and post-COVID-19 depressive symptomatology was ascertained from annual assessments conducted using a validated 21-item Spanish Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models assessed the association between COVID-19 and depression symptomatology.
ResultsCOVID-19 in older adults was associated with higher post-COVID-19 BDI-II scores measured at a median (interquartile range) of 29 (15–40) weeks post-infection [fully adjusted β = 0.65 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–1.15; p = 0.011]. This association was particularly prominent in women (β = 1.38 points, 95% CI 0.44–2.33, p = 0.004). COVID-19 was associated with 62% increased odds of elevated depression risk (BDI-II ≥ 14) post-COVID-19 when adjusted for confounders (odds ratio; 95% CI 1.13–2.30, p = 0.008).
ConclusionsCOVID-19 was associated with long-term depression risk in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, particularly in women. Thus, long-term evaluations of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and preventive public health initiatives are warranted in older adults.
A cross-sectional descriptive study to assess the impact of the “open door” policy on patient satisfaction
- M. Campillo, J. Marti, L. Rius, S. Garcia Fernandez, M. Olivero, G. Sanchez Tomico, G. Brusco-Passalaqua, E. Pechuan, T. Vates, R. Sanchez
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S910
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Since the beginning of the modern psychiatry the acute units have established a “locked door” policy. Some studies show that this condition may increase patient’s discomfort and affect the perception of health quality of care (Boyer L, 2009, Eur Psychiatry Dec;24(8):540-9). Lately, several European countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Spain are starting to implement the “open-door” policy but its impact on patient’s satisfaction is still unknown (Hochstrasser, L, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9(57). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00057) .
ObjectivesTo help characterize the advantages of the “open-door” policy implemented in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit in order to assess the patient’s view of it.
MethodsThis is a descriptive observational study carried out at an inpatient psychiatric unit. Data were collected after the implementation of the open door policy on June 2019, assessing the patient satisfaction of 31 subjects who completed the SATISPSY-22 scale at the time of discharge. Results are described using the average and its standard deviation.
ResultsResults show scores in all items above 50 points, being the care team and the quality of care the most valued ones with 82 and 79 points respectively. The overall score is above 65 points (Fig. 1).
Image:
ConclusionsIn line with previous studies, our data suggests that the main impact of the “open-door” policy implementation is on patients’ perception of the care, being Quality of care and satisfaction with the Staff the items with highest scores. This could be explained by patients trusting more in the Care team, which would help enhance the therapeutic relationship improving therapeutic adherence, treatment adequacy and the outcome. Nevertheless, the Feeling related to hospitalisation was found to be the item with the lowest score. This could mean strategies should focus on improving patient’s insight regarding their clinical state and their need to be admitted. Our study supports the hypothesis that open-door policy in acute psychiatric units is seen positively by patients and that further research should be carried.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Differential diagnosis of late onset psychotic symptoms. A case report.
- J. Sánchez Rodríguez, S. Puyal González, M. Paz Otero, E. Lozano Bori, A. García Recio
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1063
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
We present the case of a sixty-seven-year-old woman who is examined for the first time in the emergency room because of a nine-month clinical picture that involves psychotic symptoms. The patient exhibits persecutory delusions that started after she shared some private information on social media. These symptoms also entail emotional distress and behavioral disturbances. She has never experienced hallucinations, but she does present delusional interpretations of the environment. Her clinical history reveals abnormalities of premorbid personality, including paranoid and immature features.
Objectives(1) We will be carrying out a differential diagnosis of late onset psychotic symptoms. We will as well be exploring the concept of Paraphrenia and analyzing its differential features in order to stablish the most suitable diagnosis for the case.
(2) The relationship between abnormalities in premorbid personality and psychotic symptoms will be covered, reviewing the available literature on this matter, and relating it to the patient’s symptomatology.
MethodsA review of the patient’s clinical history will be carried out, considering her biography, the testimony of her family and the complementary tests performed during the hospitalization period.
A bibliographic review of the available scientific literature will also be developed involving disorders that could explain psychotic symptoms in the elderly, as well as the term Paraphrenia, which describes specific features in a psychotic episode but is not included in the diagnostic manuals.
Results(1) The symptomatology that our patient exhibits may be considered atypical given the late stage of its onset and its specific features.
(2) The case could be explained under the category of Delusional Disorder. From a psychopathological point or view, it could also fit under de diagnosis of Paraphrenia as described by Ravindran et al.
(3) Pathological personality traits were assessed in premorbid personality which included paranoid and immature features.
ConclusionsIt could be useful to review the concept of the “paranoid spectrum” as proposed by some authors regarding some patient’s psychotic symptoms that don’t exactly fit any of the nowadays diagnostic categories. “Paraphrenia” could be understood as a distinct clinical entity for patients who show psychotic disorders but keep affective warmth and lack though deterioration and grossly disorganized behavior.
Most patients with late life paranoid psychoses have abnormal premorbid personalities, most usually of schizoid or paranoid type. There’s a decent amount of consensus in viewing the premorbid personality as having been abnormal as an early marker of impending psychosis.
Reformulating the way we approach diagnosis of psychotic symptoms of late onset could help us identify vulnerable patients on a premorbid stage and better classify and understand atypical entities.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Characteristics of patients admitted to a Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit and burden felt by caregivers
- J. Marti-Bonany, O. Garcia, D. Tolosa, R. Romar, G. Mateu, D. Garcia, R. Sanchez, M. G. Hurtado, M. Campillo, C. Monserrat, M. Roldan
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S901
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Severe mental illnesses characterized by periods of relapse that require intensive resource management. Caregivers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients feel a considerable burden of care (Tanna et al. Ind Psychiatry J 2021, 30(2):299-304).
The main objective of Hospital at home for psychiatric patients is to provide intense care to patients with severe mental disorders at home as an alternative to acute admission (Alba et al. Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment. 2019, 12 (4) 207-212).
ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients attended at the Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit of our hospital (HAD-CAEM) and to assess the of burden of care that caregivers feel while giveing care to this patients.
MethodsData were collected retrospectively at admission and discharge of all patients treated at HAD-CAEM between August 2018 to March 2022. Incomes of patients who met DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Severity of disease and patient’s level of functionality was evaluated with the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Burden Caregivers was evaluated with The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS program.
Results109 patients were included in the study. 49.5% were women. The mean age was 48 years (SD 18.47 years). 44% met criteria for schizophrenia, 25.7% for depressive disorder, and 30.3% for bipolar disorder. Most of them lived with their own family (47.7%); had secondary education (51.4%) and were unemployed (33%). 81% had a history of at least one admission to an acute psychiatric unit.
The mean duration of admission in HAD-CAEM was 33.8 days (SD 15.72 days), with a mean follow-up of 8.75 visits (SD 3.58 visits).
The mean CGI severity item at admission was 4.36 and there was an improvement at the time of discharge according to the CGI improvement item (mean CGI-I=2.43).
The GAF scale on admission was 46.74 (SD 11.2) and on discharge 64.24 (SD 13.85), showing an improvement of 17.5 points at discharge (p<0.001).
The mean ZCBS of the sample was 48.21 (SD 15.11). Mean ZCBS in Schizophrenia group (n=22) was 46.13 (SD 16.53), in depressive group (n=18) was 43.61 (SD 12.89) and for bipolar group (n=17) was 55.76 (SD 13.19). A statistical test is performed with ANOVA, showing significant differences between groups (p=0.039). Post-hoc analyzes show significant differences between bipolar disorder group and the depressive disorder group (p=0.04). No significant differences are found between the other groups.
ConclusionsCaregivers of schizophrenia, depressive and bipolar disorder patients feel a considerable burden of care. ZCBS was administered to the caregivers on the last day of admission, when the patient presented clinical and functional improvement. More studies are needed to support these results.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Smoking treatments for patients with mental illness: case presentation and a brief literature review
- F. Garcia Sanchez, M. Gutierrez Rodriguez, C. Moreno Menguiano, M. A. Corral Alonso, J. J. Vazquez Vazquez, S. M. Bañon Gonzalez, V. Voces Domingo, J. A. Casado de la Hera
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S756
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Smoking prevalence in patients with mental illness ranges between two to 4 times higher than general population. This higher prevalence has a multifactorial origin, and some of the possible causes are still unknown.
They have a higher prevalence of tobacco-associated diseases and higher mortality.
Additionally, these patients have greater difficulty in treating and quitting smoking.
A relationship has been found between severity of mental illness and smoking. Risk of suicide seems to be higher in patients with higher tobacco consumption. Schizophrenia is the mental illness that has been most closely related to smoking, with a prevalence close to 90%.
ObjectivesThe aim of this work is reviewing the current bibliography referring to smoking treatments for patients with mental illness
MethodsA literature search using electronic manuscripts available in PubMed database published during the last ten years and further description and discussion of a single-patient clinical case
ResultsThe treatment of tobacco dependence in patients with mental illnesses is sometimes waited until there is psychiatric stability, which can take a long time in those cases with more severe mental disorders, which can have negative physical and psychiatric consequences.
The combined treatment of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacological treatment is the most effective approach. Nicotine replacement therapy can be useful, while combined use of antidepressants or anxiolytics is also recommended.
Bupropion has shown efficacy. In patients with schizophrenia it does not seem to worsen positive symptomatology, but improving the negative one. It should not be used in patients with bipolar disorder or bulimia.
Varenicline has shown efficacy in the general population, but limitations were established in patients with mental illness, although it is the drug that has shown greater efficacy. However, is not currently available in our country.
Cytisine is a drug with limited number of studies in the psychiatric population but it may be a reasonable treatment alternative.
ConclusionsThe prevalence of tobacco use in patients with mental illness is higher than the general population, especially in paranoid schizophrenia. The consequences on physical health and the evolution of psychiatric illness are very relevant. Based on above, a multidisciplinary and coordinated management involving psychiatrists and other specialists in the treatment of these patients should be desirable.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Efficacy of paliperidone palmitate 3-month formulation in preventing hospital admissions and emergency room visits. 66 months of follow-up
- S. L. Romero Guillena, B. O. Plasencia Garcia de Diego, J. Gomez Gonzalez, F. Gotor Sánchez-Luengo
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S487
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Paliperidone Palmitate 3-month formulation (PP3M) has shown a significantly longer time to relapse compared to placebo, with similar efficacy and safety to Paliperidone Palmitate 1-month (PP1M) (Carpiniello et al. Drug Des. Devel. Ther. 2016; 10 1731–1742).
ObjectivesThe main objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of PP3M in preventing hospital admissions and emergency room visits, in people with non-acute schizophrenia in a naturalistic psychiatric outpatient setting
MethodsSample: 30 people with diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM 5 criteria), who had started treatment with PP3M, after being stabilized with PP1M (the dose was not modified in the four months prior to inclusion in the study)
Quarterly basis, the following evaluations were performed during a follow-up period of 66 months:
The Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale (CGI-SCH)
Treatment adherence, concomitant medication and the number of hospitalizations and emergency visits
Efficacy values: Percentage of patients who remained free of admissions at the end of 66 months of follow-up.
Other evaluation criteria: Percentage of patients who never visited the emergency department at the end of 66 months of follow-up. Average change from baseline visit to the final evaluation as assessed by score obtained on the following scale: GSI-SCH, percentage of patients on antipsychotic monotherapy and treatment adherence rate.
ResultsThe mean dose of PP3M was 401. 55 mg
The percentage of patients who remained free of admissions at the end of the 66 months was 83.25% and the percentage of patients who never visited the emergency department at the end of 66 months was 79.92%
Mean variations from baseline scores at 66 months were: (-0.36 ±0-37) on the GCI-SCH.
The percentage of patients on antipsychotic monotherapy at the end of the 66 months was 76.56%
The rate of adherence was 86.58%
.
ConclusionsIn our study, we found that paliperidone palmitate 3-month formulation was effective in reducing the number of admissions and visits to the emergency department, under conditions of daily clinical practice.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Relationship between CAINS negative symptoms and cognition, psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia
- R. Rodriguez-Jimenez, L. García-Fernández, V. Romero-Ferreiro, M. Valtueña García, A. I. Aparicio, J. M. Espejo-Saavedra, L. Sánchez-Pastor, A. Nuñez-Doyle, M. Dompablo, O. Jiménez-Rodríguez, D. Rentero, P. Fernández-Sotos, I. Martínez-Gras, J. L. Santos
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S641-S642
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Negative symptoms has been classically associated with cognition, psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. But negative symptoms are not a unitary construct, encompassing two different factors: diminished expression, and motivation and pleasure. Few works have studied the relationship between these two different negative symptoms factors and cognition (neuro and social cognition), psychosocial functioning and quality of life, jointly, in patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia.
ObjectivesThe objective of the present work was to study, in a sample of patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia, the relationship between the negative symptoms (diminished expression and motivation and pleasure) and neurocognition, social cognition, functioning and quality of life.
MethodsThe study was carried out with 82 outpatients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia from two Spanish hospitals (“12 de Octubre” University Hospital, Madrid and “Virgen de la Luz” Hospital, Cuenca). The patients were assessed with the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) for evaluating diminished expression (EXP) and motivation and pleasure (MAP) symptoms, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) for evaluating neurocognition and social cognition, the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), and the Quality of Life Scale (QLS).
ResultsA negative correlation was found between neurocognition and the two negative symptoms subscales: CAINS-EXP (r=-0.458, p<0.001) and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.374, p<0.001); but with social cognition only CAINS-EXP was correlated (r=-0.236, p=0.033). Also, it was found a high negative correlation between SOFAS scores and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.717, p<0.001); and a medium negative correlation with CAINS-EXP (r=-0.394, p<0.001). Finally, QLS score was high correlated with both CAINS subscales: CAINS-EXP (r=-0.681, p<0.001) and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.770, p<0.001).
ConclusionsThis study found a relationship between negative symptoms and neurocognition, social cognition, functioning and quality of life in a sample of patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia. But the two different negative symptom factors, diminished expression, and motivation and pleasure, are associated differently with psychosocial functioning, but especially with social cognition where the relationship was only found with diminished expression symptoms.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Delusions of body control: Psychopathological description of a case.
- C. M. Gil Sánchez, J. A. Salomón Martínez, E. Fernández García
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S999-S1000
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
A considerable number of patients with schizophrenia suffer from somatic passivity or delusions of control. So much so, that Schneider considered them as part of the first-rank symptoms.
In these cases, patients can think that feelings, impulses, thoughts, or actions are controlled or imposed by an external force.
ObjectivesThe objective is to make a psychopathological description of this symptomatology, based on a case report with Anomalous bodily experiences.
MethodsIn this study, we describe the case of a patient with disorder of self-experience. We have conducted a systematic review of the descriptions published to date, regarding this case.
ResultsWe present the case of a 21-year-old patient who had gone to the emergency services three times for somatic pathology (described as dysesthetic and algic sensations in the throat, stomach and testicles).
In the psychopathological exploration, a delusional narrative is observed, as he refers that these sensations are being provoked by external people, with the aim of harming him.
The patient reports that these people are causing an increase in salivation in his salivary glands, for which he spits repeatedly.
He explains that these people can control his organs using an influencing machine, which in this case consists of a microchip implanted at the retroauricular area, from which they give orders and insult him at the same time.
In this case, a good symptom response was achieved with intramuscular Aripiprazole.
ConclusionsIn the experiences of passivity, the patient experiences one event as if it were not his, but inserted into his self from the outside.
In the case of somatic passivity, there is a belief that there are external influences acting on the body. In this case, there was probably a kinesthetic hallucination coupled with an experience of passivity.
Similar to other published cases, this patient complained of being controlled and impaired by some form of contemporary technology. Delusions of control are often associated with delusional explanations about how thought or body can be controlled, in this case, through a microchip.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Visual hallucinations and age-related macular degeneration: case presentation and a brief literature review
- M. M. Gutiérrez Rodríguez, F. García Sánchez, M. Á. Corral Alonso, J. J. Vázquez Vázquez, C. Moreno Menguiano
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S936-S937
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an ocular disease involving central vision. It is one of the mainreasons of vision loss in people over 50. Seeing non-existing faces or shapes are described in AMD. Symtoms of visualhallucinations that occur as a result of vision loss is known as Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). These patients haveintact cognition, do not have hallucinations in any other sensory modalities, and retain insight into the unreal nature oftheir hallucinations.
Objectivesthe aim of this work is analizing ethiology, demographic characteristics, clinica features and treatment inpatients with AMD and visual hallucinations
Methodsa literature search using electronic manuscripts available in PubMed database published during the last ten years with further description and discussion of a single-patient clinical case.
Resultsin different studies in patients diagnosed with AMD, the reported prevalence ranges between 15 up to 39percent. Patients with more significant vision loss may be more likely to experience visual hallucinations. In large caseseries, mean age is 70 to 85 years. Hallucinations can last few minutes or several hours. On average, people experiencethese hallucinations on and off for about 3 years. Those who experience hallucinations tend to see multiple types ofimages, particularly people and faces.The diagnosis of CBS is made when visual hallucinations occur in patients withvision loss in the absence of psychosis, delirium, or other causes.
There is no specific treatment for CBS: optimal ocular care, education and differents techniques to manage hallucinations(changing your lighting conditions and environment, blinking frequently or moving your eyes side-to-side rapidly whilekeeping your head still…). Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and low-dose of antipsychotics have been used for CBS with positiveeffects in previous reports, but the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment is somewhat questionable and should bereserved for those who exhibit high levels of distress and have not responded to conventional intervention.
Case report: 80-years old woman who presented with a 4 month history of hallucinations and legally blind from AMD. Aworkup for other pathological causes of visual hallucinations was negative.
ConclusionsCBS is an under-recognized and under-reported disorder that involves visual hallucinations in visuallyimpaired individuals. It requires a multidisciplinary approach from neurologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners andophthalmologists. New studies are needed in order to understand its clinical presentation and to improve its management.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
An empirical staging model for schizophrenia using machine learning
- M.-C. Clara, F. Sánchez-Lasheras, A. García-Fernández, L. González-Blanco, P. A. Sáiz, J. Bobes, M. P. García-Portilla
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S626-S627
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
One of the great challenges still to be achieved in schizophrenia is the development of a staging model that reflects the progression of the disorder. The previous models suggested have been developed from a theoretical point of view and do not include objective variables such as biomarkers, physical comorbidities, or self-reported subjective variables (Martinez-Cao et al. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12(1) 1-11).
ObjectivesDevelop a multidimensional staging model for schizophrenia based on empirical data.
MethodsNaturalistic, cross-sectional study. Sample: 212 stable patients with Schizophrenia (F20). Assessments: ad hoc questionnaire (demographic and clinical information); psychopathology: PANSS, CDS, OSQ, CGI-S; functioning: PSP; cognition: MATRICS; laboratory tests: C-Reactive Protein (CRP), IL-1RA, IL-6, Platelets/Lymphocytes (PLR), Neutrophils/Lymphocytes (NLR), and Monocytes/Lymphocytes (MLR) ratios. Statistical analysis: Variables selection was performed with an ad hoc algorithm developed for this research. The referred algorithm makes use of genetic algorithms (GA) to select those variables that show the best performance for the patients classification according to their global CGI-S. The objective function of the GA maximizes the individuals correct classification of a support vector machines (SVM) model that employs as input variables those given by the GA (Díez-Díaz et al. Mathematics 2021; 9(6) 654). Models performance was assessed with the help of 3-fold cross-validation and these process was repeated 10,000 times for each one of the models assessed.
ResultsMean age(SD): 39.5(13.54); men: 63.5%; secondary education: 59.50%. Most patients in our sample had never been married (74.10%), and more than a third received disability benefits due to schizophrenia (37.70%). The mean length of the disease was 11.98(12.02) years. The best SVM model included the following variables: 1)Clinical: number of hospitalizations, positive, negative, depressive symptoms and general psychopathology; 2)Cognition: speed of processing, visual learning and social cognition; 3)Functioning: PSP total score; 4)Biomarkers: PLR, NLR and MLR. This model was executed again 100,000 times applying again 3-fold cross-validation. In 95% of the algorithm executions more than a 53.52% of the patients were classfied in the right CGI-S category. On average the right classification was of 61.93%. About specificity and sensitivity the average values obtained were of 0.85 and 0.64 respectively.
ConclusionsOur staging model is a robust method that appropriately distributes patients according to the severity of the disorder. Highlights the importance of clinical, functional and cognitive factors to classify patients. Finally, the inflammatory parameters PLR, NLR and MLR have also emerged as potential biomarkers for staging schizophrenia.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Molecular characterization of a suspected IMP-type carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak reveals two simultaneous outbreaks in a tertiary-care hospital
- Ana Gual-de-Torrella, Carla López-Causape, Izaskun Alejo-Cancho, Estrella Rojo-Molinero, Gonzalo Sanchez-García, Sara Cortés-Lara, María B. Rodríguez Moral, Pilar Berdonces-Gonzalez, María J. Lopez de Goikoetxea, Antonio Oliver
-
- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 44 / Issue 11 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 May 2023, pp. 1801-1808
- Print publication:
- November 2023
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Objective:
To describe IMP-type carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreaks at Galdakao University Hospital between March 2021 to December 2021.
Design:Outbreak report.
Setting:Galdakao University Hospital is a tertiary-care hospital in the Basque Country (northern Spain).
Patients:All patients with a positive IMP-type carbapenemase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IMP-PA) culture were included in this study, both colonization and infection cases.
Methods:An outbreak investigation was conducted, in which molecular epidemiology analysis [pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)] and environmental screenings were performed.
Results:Between March and December 2021, 21 cases of IMP-PA were detected in Galdakao University Hospital: 18 infection cases and 3 colonization cases. In total, 4 different pulsotypes were detected belonging to 4 clones according to WGS: ST175 (n = 14), ST633 (n = 3), ST179 (n = 3), and ST348 (n = 1). IMP-13 was detected in most isolates belonging to the ST175 clone and in all ST179 and ST348 clones, whereas IMP-29 was detected in isolates belonging to the ST633 clone. Clinical isolates belonging to the ST175 clone were isolated mainly from patients admitted to the respiratory ward, and isolates belonging to the ST633 clone from patients admitted to the ICU. Two environmental isolates belonging to the ST175 clone were detected in the respiratory ward.
Conclusions:Molecular and genomic epidemiology revealed that there had been 2 independent IMP-PA outbreaks, one of long duration in the respiratory ward and the other more limited in the ICU.
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
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 53 / Issue 15 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 26 April 2023, pp. 7265-7276
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
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.
Do the negative symptoms of schizophrenia reflect reduced responsiveness to reward? Examination using a reward prediction error (RPE) task
- Paola Fuentes-Claramonte, Maria Angeles Garcia-Leon, Pilar Salgado-Pineda, Núria Ramiro, Joan Soler-Vidal, Maria Llanos Torres, Ramon Cano, Isabel Argila-Plaza, Francesco Panicali, Carmen Sarri, Núria Jaurrieta, Manel Sánchez, Ester Boix-Quintana, Auria Albacete, Teresa Maristany, Salvador Sarró, Joaquim Raduà, Peter J. McKenna, Raymond Salvador, Edith Pomarol-Clotet
-
- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 53 / Issue 15 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 29 March 2023, pp. 7106-7115
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Background
A leading theory of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia is that they reflect reduced responsiveness to rewarding stimuli. This proposal has been linked to abnormal (reduced) dopamine function in the disorder, because phasic release of dopamine is known to code for reward prediction error (RPE). Nevertheless, few functional imaging studies have examined if patients with negative symptoms show reduced RPE-associated activations.
MethodsMatched groups of DSM-5 schizophrenia patients with high negative symptom scores (HNS, N = 27) or absent negative symptoms (ANS, N = 27) and healthy controls (HC, N = 30) underwent fMRI scanning while they performed a probabilistic monetary reward task designed to generate a measure of RPE.
ResultsIn the HC, whole-brain analysis revealed that RPE was positively associated with activation in the ventral striatum, the putamen, and areas of the lateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex, among other regions. Group comparison revealed no activation differences between the healthy controls and the ANS patients. However, compared to the ANS patients, the HNS patients showed regions of significantly reduced activation in the left ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and in the right lingual and fusiform gyrus. HNS and ANS patients showed no activation differences in ventral striatal or midbrain regions-of-interest (ROIs), but the HNS patients showed reduced activation in a left orbitofrontal cortex ROI.
ConclusionsThe findings do not suggest that a generalized reduction of RPE signalling underlies negative symptoms. Instead, they point to a more circumscribed dysfunction in the lateral frontal and possibly the orbitofrontal cortex.