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The Role of Social Defeat in Neurological differences in Psychotic Patients
- A. Malaviya, P. A. Lalousis, S. J. Wood, A. Bertolino, S. B. Borgwardt, P. Brambilla, J. Kambeitz, R. Lencer, C. Pantelis, S. Ruhrmann, R. K. Salokangas, F. Schultze-Lutter, E. Meisenzahl, N. Koutsouleris, R. Upthegrove
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S183
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Introduction
The social defeat hypothesis (SDH) suggests that a chronic experience of social defeat increases the likelihood of the development of psychosis. The SDH indicates that a negative experience of exclusion leads to an increase in the baseline activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system (MDS), which in turn leads to the onset of psychosis. Social defeat models have previously been produced using animal models and preclinical literature; however, these theories have not fully been tested in human clinical samples. There have been studies implying changes in brain structure due to social defeat interactions; however, research evidence is varied.
ObjectivesThis study aims to uncover whether exposure to SoDe has an impact on brain structure. Furthermore, we hope to understand if these changes are relevant to other mental health disorders.
Methods698 (506 no SoDe, 191 SoDe) participants between the ages of 15-41 were recruited from the PRONIA-FP7 study. SoDe was measured from the self-reported questionnaires’ Bullying Scale’ and ‘The Everyday Discrimination Scale’. T1-weighted structural MRI data were processed; five 2 sample t-test analyses were carried out to compare the GMV differences in the entire sample and between the four groups.
ResultsThe VBM analysis showed significant group interactions in the right thalamus proper when comparing participants who had experience SoDe to participants who had not experienced SoDe including all 4 groups along with left cerebral white matter differences. In the ROP subgroup, significant group interactions in the left cerebellum white matter were found along with right cerebral white matter, left cerebral white matter and right Thalamus proper.
ConclusionsThe findings suggest that there are significant group interactions in thalamus and cerebral white matter. This is in keeping with some previous research suggesting volumetric changes in the thalamus due to stress and psychosis. Similarly for white matter there is some evidence suggesting differences due to SoDe and psychosis. However, there is a scarcity of research in this area with different research suggesting distinctive findings and therefore the evidence is inconclusive. In the ROP group analysis significant group interactions were present in the cerebellum due to SoDe experience. There is research suggesting the cerebellum’s role in multiple different aspects like social interaction, higher-order cognition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and psychotic symptoms, with every research suggesting multiple different things the role of the cerebellum in SoDe in the ROP population is in question. Nonetheless this large-scale research presents some interesting novel finding and leads the way to a new area of research. Further analysis will explore the relationship between groups on markers of stress (CRP) and neuroinflammation as potential mediation of the environmental effects of SoDe.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Liver fibrosis in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, an unrecognised complication?
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- Maren E. H. Ravndal, Lise Borgwardt, Klaus Juul, Jon Nielsen, Lotte Borgwardt, Birthe M. Henriksen, Gro L. Willemoe, Annette S. Jensen, Vibeke B. Christensen, Mette S. Kjær
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- Journal:
- Cardiology in the Young / Volume 31 / Issue 11 / November 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 March 2021, pp. 1796-1806
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Objectives:
Improved survival has led to a growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), followed by numerous reports of late complications. Liver disease is a known complication in some patients, with most studies focusing on Fontan associated liver disease. Whether liver disease also exists in other patients with CHD is not fully investigated. Elevated central venous pressure is considered pivotal in the development of liver disease in Fontan associated liver disease, and other patients with alterations in central venous pressure may also be at risk for developing liver fibrosis. We wanted to see if liver fibrosis is present in patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Many patients with tetralogy of Fallot have severe pulmonary regurgitation, which can lead to elevated central venous pressure. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot may be at risk of developing liver fibrosis.
Materials and methods:Ten patients (24–56 years) with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary regurgitation were investigated for liver fibrosis. All patients were examined with magnetic resonance elastography of liver, hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan, indocyanine green elimination by pulse spectrophotometry, elastography via FibroScan, abdominal ultrasound including liver elastography, and blood samples including liver markers.
Results:Three out of ten patients had findings indicating possible liver fibrosis. Two of these had a liver biopsy performed, which revealed fibrosis stage 1 and 2, respectively. The same three patients had an estimated elevated central venous pressure in previous echocardiograms.
Conclusions:Mild liver fibrosis was present in selected patients with tetralogy of Fallot and may be related to elevated central venous pressure.
Reduced parahippocampal cortical thickness in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis
- S. Tognin, A. Riecher-Rössler, E. M. Meisenzahl, S. J. Wood, C. Hutton, S. J. Borgwardt, N. Koutsouleris, A. R. Yung, P. Allen, L. J. Phillips, P. D. McGorry, I. Valli, D. Velakoulis, B. Nelson, J. Woolley, C. Pantelis, P. McGuire, A. Mechelli
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 44 / Issue 3 / February 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2013, pp. 489-498
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Background
Grey matter volume and cortical thickness represent two complementary aspects of brain structure. Several studies have described reductions in grey matter volume in people at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis; however, little is known about cortical thickness in this group. The aim of the present study was to investigate cortical thickness alterations in UHR subjects and compare individuals who subsequently did and did not develop psychosis.
MethodWe examined magnetic resonance imaging data collected at four different scanning sites. The UHR subjects were followed up for at least 2 years. Subsequent to scanning, 50 UHR subjects developed psychosis and 117 did not. Cortical thickness was examined in regions previously identified as sites of neuroanatomical alterations in UHR subjects, using voxel-based cortical thickness.
ResultsAt baseline UHR subjects, compared with controls, showed reduced cortical thickness in the right parahippocampal gyrus (p < 0.05, familywise error corrected). There were no significant differences in cortical thickness between the UHR subjects who later developed psychosis and those who did not.
ConclusionsThese data suggest that UHR symptomatology is characterized by alterations in the thickness of the medial temporal cortex. We did not find evidence that the later progression to psychosis was linked to additional alterations in cortical thickness, although we cannot exclude the possibility that the study lacked sufficient power to detect such differences.
Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature
- R. Martín-Santos, A. B. Fagundo, J. A. Crippa, Z. Atakan, S. Bhattacharyya, P. Allen, P. Fusar-Poli, S. Borgwardt, M. Seal, G. F. Busatto, P. McGuire
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 40 / Issue 3 / March 2010
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 July 2009, pp. 383-398
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Background
We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on brain structure and function. The review focuses on the cognitive changes associated with acute and chronic use of the drug.
MethodWe reviewed literature reporting neuroimaging studies of chronic or acute cannabis use published up until January 2009. The search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words: cannabis, marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, cannabidiol, CBD, neuroimaging, brain imaging, computerized tomography, CT, magnetic resonance, MRI, single photon emission tomography, SPECT, functional magnetic resonance, fMRI, positron emission tomography, PET, diffusion tensor MRI, DTI-MRI, MRS and spectroscopy.
ResultsSixty-six studies were identified, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three were functional (SPECT/PET/fMRI) and eight structural (volumetric/DTI) imaging studies. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies precluded a meta-analysis. The functional studies suggest that resting global and prefrontal blood flow are lower in cannabis users than in controls. The results from the activation studies using a cognitive task are inconsistent because of the heterogeneity of the methods used. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased resting activity and activation of the frontal and anterior cingulate cortex during cognitive tasks. Only three of the structural imaging studies found differences between users and controls.
ConclusionsFunctional neuroimaging studies suggest a modulation of global and prefrontal metabolism both during the resting state and after the administration of THC/marijuana cigarettes. Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reported.