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Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni... 2024To identify differences in electroencephalographic parameters in schizophrenia patients with and without a history of suicide attempts.
OBJECTIVE
To identify differences in electroencephalographic parameters in schizophrenia patients with and without a history of suicide attempts.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eighty-seven inpatients (50 men and 37 women) with paranoid schizophrenia were examined. Suicidal attempts in the anamnesis of patients were verified by a psychiatrist on the basis of clinical interviewing. The severity of psychopathological symptoms was assessed using The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) based on a five-factor model. Electroencephalogram (EEG) parameters were recorded and evaluated using a 16-channel encephalograph. A clinical and quantitative analysis of the recordings was carried out with the calculation of absolute spectral power indicators for theta, alpha and beta rhythms, as well as the severity of the activation reaction (Berger effect).
RESULTS
Significantly higher rates of the PANSS depression factor were revealed in patients with a history of suicide attempts (=0.016). Clinical analysis of EEG changes did not reveal any significant differences between the groups (>0.05). The spectral analysis of the EEG showed significant differences only in the spectral power of the beta rhythm in the central (=0.048) and occipital (=0.021) leads with closed eyes, which was lower in the group with a history of suicide attempts. The degree of alpha rhythm depression in the occipital leads was also significantly lower in this group (=0.016). The regression analysis showed that significant correlates of suicidal attempts in patients with paranoid schizophrenia are the PANSS depressive factor (=2.784; =0.016) and a deficiency in the activation response to EEG (=-2.035; =0.045).
CONCLUSION
The results complement previous studies on the relationship between suicidal attempts, clinical symptoms and neurophysiological features of the functioning of the brain of patients with paranoid schizophrenia.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Adult; Suicide, Attempted; Electroencephalography; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Beta Rhythm
PubMed: 38884437
DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2024124051113 -
PCN Reports : Psychiatry and Clinical... Dec 2023Delusions are a common symptom in schizophrenia. Some scales have been developed to measure delusional tendencies in healthy people, and nonpathological delusional...
AIM
Delusions are a common symptom in schizophrenia. Some scales have been developed to measure delusional tendencies in healthy people, and nonpathological delusional thinking can occur even among these individuals. The existing scales measure the presence and frequency of delusional thoughts, distress levels, and confidence levels. However, these scales are limited because they do not consider the context of the delusions (i.e., where, with whom, and when). In this study, we developed a new scale that presents detailed scenes using illustrations and sentences and measures the tendency toward delusional interpretations.
METHODS
Factor analysis was conducted to confirm the factor structure of the new scale. To examine the validity of the scale, we analyzed the correlations between delusional tendencies and related variables and verified the consistency between the current scale and previously developed tools.
RESULTS
Factor analysis confirmed that the new scale has a two-factor structure, including "internal attribution and paranoid tendency" and "external attribution tendency." The new scale was found to have acceptable reliability and validity. The internal attribution and paranoid tendency factor was negatively correlated with self-esteem and decentering. Furthermore, the internal attribution and paranoid tendency factor showed a moderate positive correlation with depressive state and anxiety tendency and a very weak positive correlation with experiences of bullying or harassment.
CONCLUSION
The correlations between the new scale and related variables confirmed the construct validity and replicated the results reported in previous studies. This new scale enables the measurement of delusional tendencies in healthy subjects based on the social context.
PubMed: 38868731
DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.156 -
Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria Jun 2024The neurobiological basis of delusional disorder is less explored through neuroimaging techniques than in other psychotic disorders. This study aims to provide...
BACKGROUND
The neurobiological basis of delusional disorder is less explored through neuroimaging techniques than in other psychotic disorders. This study aims to provide information about the neural origins of delusional disorder (DD) by examining the neuroanatomical features of some basal nuclei with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty DD patients and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. Globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate nuclei were selected individually with a region of interest (ROI) on the axial MRI images. The entire texture analysis algorithm applied to all selected ROIs was done with an in-house software. Nuclei on both sides were taken as separate samples.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups in terms of age and gender. The average "mean, median and maximum" values of all three nuclei were decreased in DD patients. The small putamen area and the differences detected in different tissue parameters for all three nuclei in delusional disorder patients indicate that they differ in delusional disorder from normal controls (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The differences detected in the texture parameters for all three nuclei indicate that there is something different in the DD from in the normal controls. Neuroimaging studies with larger samples and different techniques in the future may shed light on the etiology of delusional disorder.
Topics: Humans; Female; Putamen; Male; Globus Pallidus; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Caudate Nucleus; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Neuroimaging
PubMed: 38863052
DOI: 10.62641/aep.v52i3.1604 -
Translational Psychiatry Jun 2024There is a lack of knowledge regarding the relationship between proneness to dimensional psychopathological syndromes and the underlying pathogenesis across major...
There is a lack of knowledge regarding the relationship between proneness to dimensional psychopathological syndromes and the underlying pathogenesis across major psychiatric disorders, i.e., Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), Schizoaffective Disorder (SZA), and Schizophrenia (SZ). Lifetime psychopathology was assessed using the OPerational CRITeria (OPCRIT) system in 1,038 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD, BD, SZ, or SZA. The cohort was split into two samples for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. All patients were scanned with 3-T MRI, and data was analyzed with the CAT-12 toolbox in SPM12. Psychopathological factor scores were correlated with gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical thickness (CT). Finally, factor scores were used for exploratory genetic analyses including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk score (PRS) association analyses. Three factors (paranoid-hallucinatory syndrome, PHS; mania, MA; depression, DEP) were identified and cross-validated. PHS was negatively correlated with four GMV clusters comprising parts of the hippocampus, amygdala, angular, middle occipital, and middle frontal gyri. PHS was also negatively associated with the bilateral superior temporal, left parietal operculum, and right angular gyrus CT. No significant brain correlates were observed for the two other psychopathological factors. We identified genome-wide significant associations for MA and DEP. PRS for MDD and SZ showed a positive effect on PHS, while PRS for BD showed a positive effect on all three factors. This study investigated the relationship of lifetime psychopathological factors and brain morphometric and genetic markers. Results highlight the need for dimensional approaches, overcoming the limitations of the current psychiatric nosology.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Bipolar Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Schizophrenia; Psychotic Disorders; Gray Matter; Middle Aged; Genome-Wide Association Study; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Brain; Psychopathology; Multifactorial Inheritance; Cerebral Cortex
PubMed: 38830892
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02936-6 -
Cureus Apr 2024Semaglutide (Ozempic), a GLP-1 receptor agonist effective in weight management, and ziprasidone (Geodon), an antipsychotic with a lower risk of metabolic side effects,...
Semaglutide (Ozempic), a GLP-1 receptor agonist effective in weight management, and ziprasidone (Geodon), an antipsychotic with a lower risk of metabolic side effects, are well-established in treating type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia, respectively. However, their interactions and effects on psychiatric symptoms are less understood. In this study, we report a case of a 43-year-old male with schizophrenia and diabetes with exacerbated paranoid delusions upon semaglutide administration for weight loss; symptoms peaked at higher doses and subsided after dose reduction. Concurrently, serum ziprasidone levels were significantly elevated at the dose reduction, suggesting a pharmacokinetic interaction likely due to semaglutide-induced slowed gastric emptying affecting ziprasidone's absorption and metabolism. This study illustrates the need for careful monitoring of psychiatric symptoms and drug levels when these medications are used together. Additionally, further research into their interactions to optimize treatment for patients with coexisting metabolic and psychiatric conditions is warranted.
PubMed: 38817502
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59319 -
Alpha Psychiatry Jan 2024Schizophrenia patients often have personality disorders; schizophrenia patients with personality disorders are more difficult to treat and have a worse prognosis. Early...
OBJECTIVE
Schizophrenia patients often have personality disorders; schizophrenia patients with personality disorders are more difficult to treat and have a worse prognosis. Early identification of this group of patients and early intervention can achieve better prognosis. Therefore, it is very important to explore effective biomarkers and early diagnosis for the prognosis of schizophrenia. The primary purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between plasma miRNA expression level and personality disorder with schizophrenia.
METHODS
Gene microarrays in miRNA files were employed, and the plasma of peripheral blood of 82 schizophrenic patients and 43 healthy control subjects were examined. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection were performed to explore the results. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between expression level of miRNAs and Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire-4 score.
RESULTS
The results showed that miR-1273d, miR-1303, miR-3064-5p, miR-3131, miR-3687, miR-4428, miR-4725-3p, and miR-5096 were up-regulated in schizophrenic patients. Compared to healthy control subjects, the difference was statistically significant ( < .05). Schizophrenic patients with schizoid, paranoid, schizotypal, and obsessive compulsive traits had negative correlation with miR-1303, miR-3131, miR-4428, and miR-5096 expression level ( = -0.40 to -0.62, < .05); there were no significant differences in the other miRNAs. Correlation with other personality traits was not significant ( > .05). The stepwise regression analysis indicated that miR-5096, miR-3131, and miR-1273d have a significant predictive effect on the schizoid trait ( < .01). MiR-4428 and miR-1303 had a significant predictive effect on the schizotypal trait ( < .01). MiR-5096, miR-4428, and miR-4725-3P had a significant predictive effect on the paranoid trait ( < .05). MiR-4428, miR-1303, and miR-5096 had a significant predictive effect on the obsessive compulsive trait ( < .05).
CONCLUSION
The expression levels of miR-1273d, miR-1303, miR-3064-5p, miR-3131, miR-3687, miR-4428, miR-4725-3p, and miR-5096 were up-regulated in the peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia, and these miRNAs are expected to be diagnostic biomarkers for accurate diagnosis of schizophrenia. The expression levels of miR-1303, miR-3131, miR-1273d, miR-4428, miR-4725-3p, and miR-5096 have significant predictive effects on personality disorder in schizophrenia.
PubMed: 38799488
DOI: 10.5152/alphapsychiatry.2024.231216 -
Brain Sciences May 2024Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment has repeatedly been found in paranoid schizophrenia. The current study aims at investigating whether this is related to a deficit in ToM...
BACKGROUND
Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment has repeatedly been found in paranoid schizophrenia. The current study aims at investigating whether this is related to a deficit in ToM (undermentalizing) or an increased ToM ability to hyperattribute others' mental states (overmentalizing).
METHODS
Mental state attribution was examined in 24 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (12 acute paranoid (APS) and 12 post-acute paranoid (PPS)) with regard to positive symptoms as well as matched healthy persons using a moving shapes paradigm. We used 3-T-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to provide insights into the neural underpinnings of ToM due to attributional processes in different states of paranoid schizophrenia.
RESULTS
In the condition that makes demands on theory of mind skills (ToM condition), in patients with diagnosed schizophrenia less appropriate mental state descriptions have been used, and they attributed mental states less often to the moving shapes than healthy persons. On a neural level, patients suffering from schizophrenia exhibited within the ToM network hypoactivity in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and hyperactivity in the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) as compared to the healthy sample.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate both undermentalizing and hypoactivity in the MPFC and increased overattribution related to hyperactivity in the TPJ in paranoid schizophrenia, providing new implications for understanding ToM in paranoid schizophrenia.
PubMed: 38790440
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050461 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin May 2024Exposure to childhood maltreatment-a risk factor for psychosis is associated with paranoia-may impact one's beliefs about the world and how beliefs are updated. We...
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS
Exposure to childhood maltreatment-a risk factor for psychosis is associated with paranoia-may impact one's beliefs about the world and how beliefs are updated. We hypothesized that increased exposure to childhood maltreatment is related to volatility-related belief updating, specifically higher expectations of volatility, and that these relationships are strongest for threat-related maltreatment. Additionally, we tested whether belief updating mediates the relationship between maltreatment and paranoia.
STUDY DESIGN
Belief updating was measured in 75 patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and 76 nonpsychiatric controls using a 3-option probabilistic reversal learning (3PRL) task. A Hierarchical Gaussian Filter (HGF) was used to estimate computational parameters of belief updating, including prior expectations of volatility (μ03). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess cumulative maltreatment, threat, and deprivation exposure. Paranoia was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the revised Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS).
RESULTS
Greater exposure to childhood maltreatment is associated with higher prior expectations of volatility in the whole sample and in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This was specific to threat-related maltreatment, rather than deprivation, in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Paranoia was associated with both exposure to childhood maltreatment and volatility priors, but we did not observe a significant indirect effect of volatility priors on the relationship between maltreatment and paranoia.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders who were exposed to threatening experiences during childhood expect their environment to be more volatile, potentially facilitating aberrant belief updating and conferring risk for paranoia.
PubMed: 38701234
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae057 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Impaired function of brain morphogenic genes is considered one of the predisposing factors for the manifestation of psychiatric and cognitive disorders, such as paranoid...
INTRODUCTION
Impaired function of brain morphogenic genes is considered one of the predisposing factors for the manifestation of psychiatric and cognitive disorders, such as paranoid schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Identification of such genes (genes of neurotrophic factors and guidance molecules among them) and their deleterious genetic variants serves as a key to diagnosis, prevention, and possibly treatment of such disorders. In this study, we have examined the prevalence of genomic variants in brain morphogenic genes in individuals with SCZ and MDD within a Russian population.
METHODS
We have performed whole-exome sequencing of 21 DNA samples: 11 from individuals with SCZ and 10 with MDD, followed by ARMS (Amplification-Refractory Mutation System) based screening of detected single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in larger groups: 102 for individuals with SCZ, 79 for those with MDD and 103 for healthy donors.
RESULTS
Whole-exome sequencing has revealed 226 missense mutations in 79 genes (out of 140 studied), some of which occur in patients with psychiatric disorders significantly more frequently than in healthy donors. We have identified previously undescribed genomic variants in brain morphogenic genes: (rs1944294-T and rs17445840-T), (rs11935573-G and rs12500437-G/T) and (rs1227051-G/A), significantly associated with the incidence of SCZ and MDD in the Russian population. For some SNVs (rs6265-T, rs1944294-T, rs11935573-G, rs4760-G) sex-biased differences in their prevalence between SCZ/MDD patients and healthy donors was detected.
DISCUSSION
However, the functional significance of the SNVs identified has still to be confirmed in cellular and animal models. Once it is fulfilled, these SNVs have the potential to complement the diagnostic toolbox for assessing susceptibility to mental disorders. The data obtained indirectly confirm the importance of adequate brain structure formation for its correct functioning and preservation of mental health.
PubMed: 38699454
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1338168