Dissociation of fractional anisotropy and resting-state functional connectivity alterations in antipsychotic-naive first-episode schizophrenia
In this study, diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were performed with 181 antipsychotic-na ïve first-episode schizophrenia patients and 173 matched healthy controls. FA was measured using tensor-guided tractography in identifiable pathways between selected pairs of brain regions with altered rsFC as determined by prior meta-analysis. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 15, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jieke Liu, Li Yao, Wenjing Zhang, Wei Deng, Yuan Xiao, Fei Li, John A. Sweeney, Qiyong Gong, Su Lui Source Type: research
Timing matters in elaborative processing of positive stimuli: Gamma band reactivity in schizophrenia compared to depression and healthy adults
Some individuals with schizophrenia report similar feelings of positive affect “in the moment” compared to control participants but report decreased trait positive affect overall. One possible explanation for this disconnection between state and trait positive affect is the extent to which individuals with schizophrenia engage in elaborative processing of positive stimuli. To assess this, we examined evoked gamma band activity in response to positive words over several seconds in a group with schizophrenia, a group with major depressive disorder, and a healthy control group. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 15, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Elizabeth A. Martin, Greg J. Siegle, Stuart R. Steinhauer, Ruth Condray Source Type: research
The association between treatment beliefs and engagement in care in first episode psychosis
Disengagement from mental health services poses an important problem for people with psychosis. Lack of treatment adherence is associated with poorer physical health, reduced social functioning, an increased rate of relapse and an increased likelihood of being legally detained (O'Brien et al., 2009). Previous research has uncovered differences in treatment beliefs based upon either differences in causal attributions (McCabe and Priebe, 2004) and ethnic/racial group (Jimenez et al., 2012), however the impact of differing treatment beliefs on engagement in care has not been examined. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 9, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: B.I. Perry, A. Kular, L. Brown, R. Gajwani, R. Jasani, Z. Islam, M. Birchwood, S.P. Singh Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Cognitive control network dysconnectivity and response to antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia
To better understand cognitive control impairment in schizophrenia, it is vital to determine the extent of dysfunctional connectivity in the associated fronto-striatal brain network, with a focus on the connections with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), prior to the potential confounding effect of medication. It is also essential to determine the effects following antipsychotic medication and the relationship of those effects on psychosis improvement. Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia, initially unmedicated and after a 6-week course of risperidone, and 20 matched healthy controls (HC) performed a fMRI task twice, s...
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 8, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Elyse J. Cadena, David M. White, Nina V. Kraguljac, Meredith A. Reid, Ripu Jindal, Roland Matthew Pixley, Adrienne C. Lahti Source Type: research
The efficacy of computerized cognitive drill and practice training for patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis
Computerized methods for improving cognitive functioning in schizophrenia have gained popularity during the past decades. Therefore, this study evaluates the available evidence for the efficacy of computerized cognitive drill and practice training for patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 7, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Merel Prikken, Mette J. Konings, Wan U. Lei, Marieke J.H. Begemann, Iris E.C. Sommer Source Type: research
Social reward processing: A biomarker for predicting psychosis risk?
The desire to obtain social rewards (e.g. positive feedback) features prominently in our lives and relationships, and is relevant to understanding psychopathology – where behavior is often impaired. Investigating social rewards within the psychosis-spectrum offers an especially useful opportunity, given the high rates of impaired social functioning and social isolation. The goal of this study was to investigate hedonic experience associated with social rewa rd processing as a potential biomarker for psychosis risk. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 7, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Andrea Pelletier-Baldelli, Joseph M. Orr, Jessica A. Bernard, Vijay A. Mittal Source Type: research
Diminished modulation of motor cortical reactivity during context-based action observation in schizophrenia
Deficient mirror neuron system (MNS)-activity is associated with social cognition deficits in schizophrenia. However, it is not known how socio-emotional contexts modulate the MNS-response. In a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)-experiment, we aimed to compare putative MNS-responses to action observation stimuli with and without a context, in patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 7, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Virupakshappa Irappa Bagewadi, Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta, Shalini S. Naik, Ramajayam Govindaraj, Shivarama Varambally, Shyam Sundar Arumugham, C. Naveen Kumar, Jagadisha Thirthalli Source Type: research
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms as antecedents of later psychotic outcomes in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Individuals with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) are at substantially heightened risk for psychosis. Thus, prevention and early intervention strategies that target the antecedents of psychosis in this high-risk group are a clinical priority. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in children with 22q11.2DS, particularly the inattentive subtype. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that ADHD inattention symptoms predict later psychotic symptoms and/or psychotic disorder in those with 22q11.2DS. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 7, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Maria Niarchou, Samuel J.R.A. Chawner, Ania Fiksinski, Jacob A.S. Vorstman, Johanna Maeder, Maude Schneider, Stephan Eliez, Marco Armando, Maria Pontillo, Stefano Vicari, Donna M. McDonald-McGinn, Beverly S. Emanuel, Elaine H. Zackai, Carrie E. Bearden, V Source Type: research
Relapse in the first three months postpartum in women with history of serious mental illness
Relapse of serious mental illness (psychotic and bipolar disorders; SMI) in the postpartum period is potentially devastating for mother and baby. There is limited evidence on whether medication in the perinatal period is protective against postpartum relapse for women with SMI particularly non-affective psychoses. We aimed to investigate risk factors for postpartum relapse, particularly the potential prophylactic effects of medication. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Clare L. Taylor, Robert J. Stewart, Louise M. Howard Source Type: research
A multi-dimensional approach to the relationship between insight and aggressiveness in schizophrenia: Findings from the FACE-SZ cohort
Aggressiveness is a stigma frequently associated with schizophrenia. The role of insight as a risk factor of aggressiveness remains contradictory; mainly because single measures of these states mask their complexity and heterogeneity. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 3, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: A. Schandrin, J. Norton, S. Raffard, B. Aouizerate, F. Berna, L. Brunel, I. Chereau-Boudet, T. D'Amato, H. Denizot, C. Dubertret, J. Dubreucq, C. Faget, G. Fond, F. Gabayet, P.M. Llorca, J. Mallet, D. Misdrahi, C. Passerieux, R. Rey, F. Schurhoff, M. Urba Source Type: research
Neurocognitive profiles in the prodrome to psychosis in NAPLS-1
Most studies of neurocognitive functioning in Clinical High Risk (CHR) cohorts have examined group averages, likely concealing heterogeneous subgroups. We aimed to identify neurocognitive subgroups and to explore associated outcomes. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 2, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Eva Velthorst, Eric C. Meyer, Anthony J. Giuliano, Jean Addington, Kristin S. Cadenhead, Tyrone D. Cannon, Barbara A. Cornblatt, Thomas H. McGlashan, Diana O. Perkins, Ming T. Tsuang, Elaine F. Walker, Scott W. Woods, Carrie E. Bearden, Larry J. Seidman Source Type: research
Editorial Board
(Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Neural correlates of social cognitive introspective accuracy in schizophrenia
Introspective accuracy (IA) refers to the ability to accurately assess one's own skills and capabilities. Recent work provides evidence of IA deficits in schizophrenia that are predictive of everyday functioning. Thus, IA deficits are an important target to understand mechanistically. The current study used fMRI to assess neural activation in 32 healthy controls and 31 individuals with schizophrenia as they completed IA and control versions of a social cognitive task (i.e., emotion recognition). (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Amy E. Pinkham, Hans S. Klein, Grant B. Hardaway, Kathryn C. Kemp, Philip D. Harvey Source Type: research
Social impairment and social language deficits in children and adolescents with and at risk for psychosis
One of the more debilitating functional outcomes of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders is social impairment. Previous studies have identified impaired social functioning both in the prodromal phase of psychosis and after acute symptoms abate, suggesting that social impairment represents a core deficit in psychosis not directly linked to psychotic episodes or symptom severity. To date, research in this area has focused primarily on adult populations rather than children, and has not directly assessed social language in individuals across the psychosis continuum. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Eugene J. D'Angelo, Nicholas Morelli, Sarah Hope Lincoln, Kelsey Graber, Sahil Tembulkar, Alyssa Gaudet, Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich Source Type: research
Is a higher dose of antipsychotic medication required to treat a relapse following discontinuation in first episode psychosis?
Antipsychotic medications are effective in treating positive psychotic symptoms (Leucht et al., 2009) and preventing relapse (Leucht et al., 2012). Yet, prolonged exposure is associated with adverse effects (Young et al., 2015). Clinicians should use the minimum dose for the minimum duration in order to achieve and sustain recovery. However, it is currently not possible to predict the necessary dose or duration for each individual. Unnecessarily prolonged use of antipsychotics may increase adverse effects, while trials of discontinuation may lead to relapses. (Source: Schizophrenia Research)
Source: Schizophrenia Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Meghan Bowtell, Patrick McGorry, Brian O'Donoghue Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
