A tri-ethnic examination of symptom expression on the positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

BackgroundAnomalies of imagination encompass disturbances of the basic experiential structure of fantasies and imagery that can be explored in a semi-structured way with the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI). We aimed (1) to examine the distribution of anomalies of imagination among different diagnostic groups and a group of healthy controls, and (2) to examine their relation with disorders of basic self, perceptual disturbances and canonical state psychopathology of the schizophrenia-spectrum (positive, negative and general symptoms).MethodsThe 81 participants included patients with schizophrenia or other non-affective psychosis (N = 32), schizotypal personality disorder (N = 15) or other mental illness (N = 16) and healthy controls (N = 18). The assessment encompassed EAFI, Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE), parts of Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). For network analysis, the associations of EAFI with the other psychopathological variables were tested by Pearson's correlation coefficient and graphically represented using multidimensional clustering. Comparisons between correlations in the network were tested with Steiger's test.ResultsAnomalies of imagination aggregated significantly in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders compared to other mental illness and healthy controls with no difference between schizophrenia and schizotypal disorder. In the network analysis, anomalies of imagination were closely inter-connected with self-disorders. Although, the anomalies of imagination correlated moderately with perceptual disturbance and positive, negative and general state symptomatology, these dimensions aggregated separately and relatively distant in the network.ConclusionsThe results support that anomalies of imagination are highly characteristic of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and closely related to self-disorders.

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Niacin sensitivity in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, their 1st Degree Relatives and Healthy Controls

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73205-9 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 1501-1501

Author(s):

M. Schloegelhofer ◽

N. Mossaheb ◽

R. Kaufmann ◽

T. Aninilkumparambil ◽

A. Gold ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phospholipid Metabolism ◽

Skin Tests ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Non Invasive ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Negative Syndrome

IntroductionSchizophrenia has often been associated with a reduced skin flush response to niacin. Blunted response suggests potential disturbance in phospholipid metabolism.ObjectivesWe performed niacin skin tests in patients with schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives and healthy controls.AimsTo examine possible differences in skin flush response to niacin.MethodsWe examined 51 patients (female 49%, age 33.1 years, SD 11), with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, 51 matched healthy controls (female 49%, age 33 years, SD 12.1), and 21 first-degree relatives (female 61,9%, age 49,5 years, SD 17,6, one affected, others non-affected). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Mini International Neuropsychiatrie Interview were used to assess psychopathology and diagnosis, respectively. The non-invasive niacin skin flush test was used to assess vasodilatative reaction to four different concentrations of niacin on the forearms of subjects.ResultsWe found no differences in total scores on the niacin skin flush test between the three groups (p = 0.774). Mean scores were 60.27 (SD 14.2) in healthy controls, 58.84 (SD 10.2) in patients and 58.48 (SD 9.4) in first-degree relatives.ConclusionContrary to our expectations we did not find a significantly blunted niacin skin flush reaction in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders compared to healthy controls or 1st degree relatives.

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Sex-related differences in smell identification in patients with schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives and matched healthy controls

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73121-2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 1416-1416

Author(s):

R.M. Kaufmann ◽

N. Mossaheb ◽

M. Schlögelhofer ◽

T. Aninilkumparambil ◽

A. Gold ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Of Pennsylvania ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

The University ◽

Negative Syndrome ◽

Smell Identification

IntroductionSex-related differences in smell identification have been shown in healthy subjects, however, in patients with schizophrenia these findings are still controversial.ObjectivesWe analyzed sex-related differences with respect to smell identification in patients with schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives and healthy controls.AimsTo assess possible sex-related differences in smell identification.MethodsThe sample consisted of 51 patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (49% female; mean age 33.1 years; SD: 11), 21 first-degree relatives (61.9% female, age 49.5 years, SD 17.6, one affected, others non-affected) ; mean age 49.5 years; SD: 17.6) and 51 matched healthy controls (49% female; mean age 33 years; SD: 12.1). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) were used to assess psychopathology and diagnosis, respectively. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a standardized, multiple- and forced-choice scratch- and sniff test consisting of 40 items, was administered to all subjects.ResultsWe found no significant differences in smell identification between the three groups (p = 0.182). Also, the female and male subgroups did not differ significantly in smell identification (p = 0.105, p = 0.387, respectively). The mean UPSIT scores were 34.4 (SD: 4.1) for healthy women (males: 33.2; SD: 3.5), 32.0 (SD: 5.1) for women with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (males: 32.5; SD: 4.4), and 34.5 (SD: 2.6) for female first-degree relatives (males: 30.5; SD: 2.8).ConclusionWe found neither significant differences in smell identification in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, their first-degree relatives or healthy controls, nor sex-related differences.

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A Network of Psychopathological, Cognitive, and Motor Symptoms in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbab002 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bernardo Melo Moura ◽

Geeske van Rooijen ◽

Frederike Schirmbeck ◽

Hanneke Wigman ◽

Luís Madeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Sample ◽

Motor Symptoms ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Network Communities ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Negative Syndrome ◽

Core Features

Abstract Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) are complex syndromes involving psychopathological, cognitive, and also motor symptoms as core features. A better understanding of how these symptoms mutually impact each other could translate into diagnostic, prognostic, and, eventually, treatment advancements. The present study aimed to: (1) estimate a network model of psychopathological, cognitive, and motor symptoms in SSD; (2) detect communities and explore the connectivity and relative importance of variables within the network; and (3) explore differences in subsample networks according to remission status. A sample of 1007 patients from a multisite cohort study was included in the analysis. We estimated a network of 43 nodes, including all the items from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, a cognitive assessment battery and clinical ratings of extrapyramidal symptoms. Methodologies specific to network analysis were employed to address the study’s aims. The estimated network for the total sample was densely interconnected and organized into 7 communities. Nodes related to insight, abstraction capacity, attention, and suspiciousness were the main bridges between network communities. The estimated network for the subgroup of patients in remission showed a sparser density and a different structure compared to the network of nonremitted patients. In conclusion, the present study conveys a detailed characterization of the interrelations between a set of core clinical elements of SSD. These results provide potential novel clues for clinical assessment and intervention.

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Depression in Elderly Patients with Schizophrenia

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1095 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S654-S654

Author(s):

I. Feki ◽

K. Mdhaffar ◽

S. Hentati ◽

R. Sallemi ◽

J. Masmoudi

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

University Hospital ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Related Factors ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Depression Scales ◽

Negative Syndrome

BackgroundThe presence of depressive symptoms impacts negatively the lives of patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Likewise, the treatment poses many challenges for clinicians.ObjectivesTo specify the profile of elderly with schizophrenia and to evaluate the prevalence of depression and its related factors.MethodsA descriptive and analytic study involved 40 elderly patients aged 65 and over with DSM-5 diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, followed to the outpatient psychiatry department of Hedi Chaker University Hospital, in Sfax, Tunisia, during the two months of September and October 2015. Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and Calgary depression scales were used to assess respectively the symptoms of schizophrenia dimensionally and depression.ResultsThe majority of our patients was male (62.5%), single (55%), with low school and socioeconomic level. The mean duration of disease was 45 ± 6.02 years and patients were mostly (90%) in classical neuroleptics. The scale of PANSS showed the predominance of negative symptoms (67.5% of cases). In addition, according to Calgary scale, depression was found in 25% of patients. Factors positively correlated to depression were: the female sex among single (P = 0.043), absence of family support (P = 0.001), treatment with conventional neuroleptics (P = 0.039) and negative symptoms (P = 0.001).ConclusionDepression in patients with schizophrenia is far from exceptional. It is often difficult to diagnose due to the recovery of other symptoms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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