scholarly journals Cingulate Abnormalities Associated with PANSS Negative Scores in First Episode Schizophrenia

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Ashton ◽  
Anna Barnes ◽  
Martin Livingston ◽  
David Wyper ◽  
The Scottish Schizophrenia Research Group
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Regional Cerebral Blood ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

There is evidence for the involvement of the cingulate gyrus in schizophrenia. We present details of a Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) analysis of SPECT data from the largest study (N= 39) of drug naive schizophrenic patients. The main findings are that there is decreased perfusion in the anterior cingulate during verbal fluency when patients are compared to controls (matched individually by age, gender and father’s social class as determined by occupation) and also that PANSS negative scores correlate negatively with regional cerebral blood flow in the cingulate gyrus (Pearson’s Correlation coefficient ofr= − 0.49 and significancep< 0.005). This suggests that measurement of change of perfusion in this region could be a useful biological marker in assessing the effect of neuroleptics on negative symptoms.

scholarly journals Positive symptoms and white matter microstructure in never-medicated first episode schizophrenia

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1709-1719 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Cheung ◽  
C. P. Y. Chiu ◽  
C. W. Law ◽  
C. Cheung ◽  
C. L. M. Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

BackgroundWe investigated cerebral structural connectivity and its relationship to symptoms in never-medicated individuals with first-onset schizophrenia using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).MethodWe recruited subjects with first episode DSM-IV schizophrenia who had never been exposed to antipsychotic medication (n=34) and age-matched healthy volunteers (n=32). All subjects received DTI and structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Patients' symptoms were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Voxel-based analysis was performed to investigate brain regions where fractional anisotropy (FA) values significantly correlated with symptom scores.ResultsIn patients with first-episode schizophrenia, positive symptoms correlated positively with FA scores in white matter associated with the right frontal lobe, left anterior cingulate gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, right middle cingulate gyrus, and left cuneus. Importantly, FA in each of these regions was lower in patients than controls, but patients with more positive symptoms had FA values closer to controls. We found no significant correlations between FA and negative symptoms.ConclusionsThe newly-diagnosed, neuroleptic-naive patients had lower FA scores in the brain compared with controls. There was positive correlation between FA scores and positive symptoms scores in frontotemporal tracts, including left fronto-occipital fasciculus and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. This implies that white matter dysintegrity is already present in the pre-treatment phase and that FA is likely to decrease after clinical treatment or symptom remission.

White-matter microstructure in previously drug-naive patients with schizophrenia after 6 weeks of treatment

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 2301-2309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Wang ◽  
C. Cheung ◽  
W. Deng ◽  
M. Li ◽  
C. Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
The Right ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

BackgroundIt is not clear whether the progressive changes in brain microstructural deficits documented in previous longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies might be due to the disease process or to other factors such as medication. It is important to explore the longitudinal alterations in white-matter (WM) microstructure in antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia during the very early phase of treatment when relatively ‘free’ from chronicity.MethodThirty-five patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 22 healthy volunteers were recruited. High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was obtained from participants at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. A ‘difference map’ for each individual was calculated from the 6-week follow-up fractional anisotropy (FA) of DTI minus the baseline FA. Differences in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores between baseline and 6 weeks were also evaluated and expressed as a 6-week/baseline ratio.ResultsCompared to healthy controls, there was a significant decrease in absolute FA of WM around the bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus and the right anterior corona radiata of the frontal lobe in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia following 6 weeks of treatment. Clinical symptoms improved during this period but the change in FA did not correlate with the changes in clinical symptoms or the dose of antipsychotic medication.ConclusionsDuring the early phase of treatment, there is an acute reduction in WM FA that may be due to the effects of antipsychotic medications. However, it is not possible to entirely exclude the effects of underlying progression of illness.

scholarly journals Smooth pursuit and saccadic abnormalities in first-episode schizophrenia

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. HUTTON ◽  
T. J. CRAWFORD ◽  
B. K. PURI ◽  
L.-J. DUNCAN ◽  
M. CHAPMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Pursuit ◽  
Saccadic Eye Movements ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Saccade Task ◽  
Pursuit Velocity ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia ◽  
Oculomotor Function ◽  
Smooth Pursuit Eye Tracking

Background. Previous studies of oculomotor dysfunction in schizophrenia have tended to concentrate on abnormalities of smooth pursuit eye tracking in chronic medicated patients. We report the results of a study of smooth pursuit, reflexive and antisaccade performance in drug naive and antipsychotic treated first-episode schizophrenic patients.Methods. Smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements were recorded in 36 first-episode schizophrenic patients and 36 controls matched for age and estimated IQ. The schizophrenic patients were divided into drug-naive (N=17) and antipsychotic treated groups (N=19).Results. Smooth pursuit velocity gain was significantly lower than controls only in the drug-naive patients. The treated patients did not differ significantly from either the controls or the untreated group. In an antisaccade paradigm both treated and drug-naive schizophrenic patients demonstrated an increased number of errors, but only drug-naive patients also demonstrated an increased latency in initiating correct antisaccades.Conclusions. These impairments are unlikely to be due to a generalized deficit in oculomotor function in the schizophrenic groups, as there were no differences between the groups in saccadic metrics on a reflexive saccade task. The results show that both smooth pursuit and saccadic abnormalities are present at the onset of schizophrenia and are integral to the disorder.

scholarly journals Clinical correlates of first episode schizophrenia-a comparative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 551
Author(s):  
Kathir M. ◽  
Pugazhendhi K. ◽  
Ravishankar J.
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Major Mental Disorder ◽  
History Of ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia is a major mental disorder which has to be assessed early and managed actively even though long term functional outcome remains relatively poor. The aim of the study is to analyze negative symptoms, suicidal risk and substance use in first episode schizophrenics in comparison with multi-episode schizophrenics.Methods: 30 patients with drug naive first episode schizophrenia and 30 patients with multi episode schizophrenia, who attended the outpatient department of Psychiatry, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India were studied to compare predisposing factors and spectrum of symptoms for Schizophrenia for a period of one year (January 2010-December 2010). Psychiatric questionnaire by Michael C. Hilton, DAST by Harvey A. Skinner, AUDIT by WHO, Suicide risk scale by National Health and Medical Research Council, PANSS by SR Kay were used to assess patients.Results: Unemployment and family history of suicide attempts were observed more in drug naive first episode schizophrenics. 90% of these patients had completed their primary education while 47% of multi-episode schizophrenics were illiterates. Positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinatory behaviour and suspiciousness) and negative symptoms (blunted affect, emotional withdrawal and social withdrawal) were observed more in first episode schizophrenics while PANSS, DAST, AUDIT scores did not find any differences between both the groups.Conclusions: In our study, the first episode schizophrenia patients were more educated, more unemployed and had more family history of suicide, elevated sub score of positive symptoms as measured by PANSS. Relative assessment of violence and serious behavior problems that are related to positive symptoms must be done and managed with anti psychotics.

scholarly journals From the Editor's desk

2004 ◽  
Vol 184 (5) ◽  
pp. 464-464
Author(s):  
Peter Tyrer
Keyword(s):  
Local Variation ◽  
Biological Psychiatry ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Anterior Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
The World ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

There is a nice mix of international and local messages in this month's Journal. Nine contributions refer to the causes, features and treatment of depression, ranging from George Szmukler's (pp. 457–460) reminder of the importance of Brown and Harris' work on life events in depression, through studies showing that both prematurity and child sexual abuse may precipitate depression (Patton et al, pp. 446–447 and Spataro et al, pp. 416–421) and that alcohol use may lead to suicidal behaviour (McCloud et al, pp. 439–445), somatization as a depressive symptom (Okulate et al, pp. 422–427), and accounts of variation in depression and its associated burden both in the European Union and across the world (Marušiä, pp. 450–451; Crawford, pp. 379–380; üstün et al, pp. 386–392; and Chisholm et al, pp. 393–403). It is pleasing to report that none of these articles is weighed down by the undoubted burden of this highly prevalent condition; but although we now have clear ways of preventing and treating it, it is a matter of some concern that, hydra-like, it returns time and again in so many different forms. But although common factors are invariably present, local differences can tell us much, and Peet's (pp. 404–408) challenging thesis on diet as a cause of this variation in both depression and schizophrenia is bound to stimulate further enquiry, as indeed will the bothering evidence from Tolmac & Hodes (pp. 428–431) that adolescent psychotic disorder is more common in people from Black ethnic groups. The attraction of biological psychiatry is that local variation should not occur, and if Jensen et al (pp. 409–415) are correct that glycerophosphocholine levels are increased in the anterior cingulate gyrus in first-episode schizophrenia, this should be similar across the world. Or perhaps there might be variation, and that's when we go back to Peet's hypothesis.

scholarly journals T121. BLUNTED AFFECT EARLY PROGRESSION IN DRUG-NAïVE FIRST EPISODE SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS: 10-WEEK FOLLOW UP

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S277-S277
Author(s):  
Simão Kagan ◽  
Luccas Coutinho ◽  
Daniel Cavalcante ◽  
Mariane Noto ◽  
André Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Intensity Score ◽  
Symptom Intensity ◽  
Neurobiological Substrates ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

Abstract Background The study of individual negative symptoms is encouraged as they may have separate neurobiological substrates and require specific therapeutic strategies. Blunted affect is a decrease in the observed expression of emotion and may be more fluctuant than expected. We aim to investigate early trajectories of blunted affect in first episode schizophrenia (FES) patients without previous antipsychotic-treatment. Methods We included 82 first episode psychosis antipsychotic naïve patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder. All participant started risperidone (1-4mg) after the first assessment. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected at baseline. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was applied at both assessments. PANSS negative component item N1 was used to access blunted affect. Participants were divided into three groups for each assessment according to their N1 score: (i) absence of symptoms - score 1 or 2; (ii) Mild intensity - score 3 or 4; and (iii) Severe intensity - score 5 to 7. Results Mean age was 25.77 (sd: ±7.27) years-old and 61% were male. Mean total PANSS was 92.74 (sd: ± 22.37) at baseline and 65.54 (sd: ± 20.42) at follow up. Mean risperidone dose at follow up was 3.71 (± 1.51). Forty three (52%) study participants had persistence of blunted affect at 10-week follow up regardless of symptom intensity. Sixteen (19.5%) patients never displayed blunted affect. In fact, the most common trajectories include participants who persists with the same symptom severity (n=48). Symptoms improved in 17 participants and got worse in 17 as well. Only one participant started the study without symptom and evolved to high intensity at follow up, while no participant started the study with high severity symptoms and evolved to absence of symptoms. Discussion Our study suggests that blunted affect exhibit different trajectories, but its intensity tends to remain stable over short-term follow up. Blunted affect may be unresponsive to risperidone at the beginning of treatment. Most of the previous studies addressed trajectories of negative symptoms as a group. Only few addressed the progression of blunted affect and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first to use a sample of drug-naïve FES patients. Also, we selected only participants in use of risperidone after first assessment in order to reduce bias. A sample of drug naïve FES patients brings opportunities like assessing the course of blunted affect at an early phase of the condition and reducing confounders such as chronicity and exposure to antipsychotics.

Reduced anterior cingulate gyrus volume correlates with executive dysfunction in men with first-episode schizophrenia

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip R. Szeszko ◽  
Robert M. Bilder ◽  
Todd Lencz ◽  
Manzar Ashtari ◽  
Robert S. Goldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Anterior Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia
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