O6.8. glutamatergic dysfuction and treatment response in minimally treated and chronic schizophrenia patients

DiscussionOur study provides the first 1H-MRS evidence for acute metabolic perturbations in glutamatergic neurotransmission in minimally treated schizophrenia patients with persistent psychotic symptoms. These are absent in later stages of the disease for both treatment-resistant and treatment-responsive patients. It is likely that neurodegenerative processes resulting from excitotoxity due glutamatergic dysfuntion are most impactful within the first few months from illness onset. Our data point to the urgent need to identify reliable biomarkers for the prediction of antipsychotic treatment-response and the development of novel interventions to address glutamatergic perturbations at the beginning of their illness.
Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research