Cortical morphology and early adverse birth events in men with first-episode psychosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1825-1837 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Smith ◽  
A. E. Thornton ◽  
D. J. Lang ◽  
G. W. MacEwan ◽  
L. C. Kopala ◽  
...  

BackgroundReduced cortical gray-matter volume is commonly observed in patients with psychosis. Cortical volume is a composite measure that includes surface area, thickness and gyrification. These three indices show distinct maturational patterns and may be differentially affected by early adverse events. The study goal was to determine the impact of two distinct obstetrical complications (OCs) on cortical morphology.MethodA detailed birth history and MRI scans were obtained for 36 patients with first-episode psychosis and 16 healthy volunteers.ResultsPerinatal hypoxia and slow fetal growth were associated with cortical volume (Cohen's d = 0.76 and d = 0.89, respectively) in patients. However, the pattern of associations differed across the three components of cortical volume. Both hypoxia and fetal growth were associated with cortical surface area (d = 0.88 and d = 0.72, respectively), neither of these two OCs was related to cortical thickness, and hypoxia but not fetal growth was associated with gyrification (d = 0.85). No significant associations were found within the control sample.ConclusionsCortical dysmorphology was associated with OCs. The use of a global measure of cortical morphology or a global measure of OCs obscured important relationships between these measures. Gyrification is complete before 2 years and its strong relationship with hypoxia suggests an early disruption to brain development. Cortical thickness matures later and, consistent with previous research, we found no association between thickness and OCs. Finally, cortical surface area is largely complete by puberty and the present results suggest that events during childhood do not fully compensate for the effects of early disruptive events.

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 2145-2155 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Haring ◽  
A. Müürsepp ◽  
R. Mõttus ◽  
P. Ilves ◽  
K. Koch ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), some have reported specific brain structure–function relationships among first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients, but findings are inconsistent. We aimed to localize the brain regions where cortical thickness (CTh) and surface area (cortical area; CA) relate to neurocognition, by performing an MRI on participants and measuring their neurocognitive performance using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), in order to investigate any significant differences between FEP patients and control subjects (CS).MethodExploration of potential correlations between specific cognitive functions and brain structure was performed using CANTAB computer-based neurocognitive testing and a vertex-by-vertex whole-brain MRI analysis of 63 FEP patients and 30 CS.ResultsSignificant correlations were found between cortical parameters in the frontal, temporal, cingular and occipital brain regions and performance in set-shifting, working memory manipulation, strategy usage and sustained attention tests. These correlations were significantly dissimilar between FEP patients and CS.ConclusionsSignificant correlations between CTh and CA with neurocognitive performance were localized in brain areas known to be involved in cognition. The results also suggested a disrupted structure–function relationship in FEP patients compared with CS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S301-S302
Author(s):  
Simone Ciufolini ◽  
John Lally ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Shubulade Smith ◽  
Marta Di Forti ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vitamin D is a neuro-steroid hormone important in brain development, maturation and function as it modulates the production of numerous brain growth factors. Indeed insufficient levels seem to compromise brain development and confer an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later on in life. Finally patients with first-episode psychosis tend to have lower levels of vitamin D than healthy controls. We aimed to explore: 1) The association between vitamin levels and brain structure (i.e. cortical thickness and surface area) in FEP individuals; 2) Differences in brain structure (i.e. cortical thickness and surface area) between FEP individuals with optimal and sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D. Methods Sample: 49 patients with first episode of psychosis (mean age: 27.8 SD ± 9.1 years) part of the BRC Psychosis Theme study on Genetics and Psychosis (GAP). Vitamin D: Vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels were determined by immunoassay. Patients were considered to have sub-optimal levels if vitamin D concentration was below 20 ng/ml, with higher concentrations deemed optimal. Twenty patients had sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D whereas 29 had optimal Vitamin D concentration. Brain Structure: 3T MRI scan were used to evaluate the cortical thickness and the surface area in 49 FEP patients. FreeSurfer 5.3.0 was used to correlate Vitamin D levels with both cortical thickness and surface area in a vertex-by-vertex analysis. afterwards differences in cortical thickness and surface area between FEP participants with both optimal and sub-optimal Vitamin D levels were examined using a vertex-by-vertex General Linear Model analysis in FreeSurfer 5.3.0. Results were corrected for multiples comparison with Montecarlo simulation. Results Vitamin D levels positively correlated with cortical thickness in the left superior-frontal gyrus and surface area in the right peri-calcarine and right inferior-parietal gyrus (all p<0.05 FWE corrected). FEP patients with sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D (below 20 ng/ml) had reduced cortical thickness in the right medial-orbitofrontal gyrus and lingual gyrus compared to those with optimal levels of Vitamin D (all p<0.05 FWE corrected). Additionally, FEP patients with sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D had smaller surface areas in the cuneus, latero-orbitofrontal gyrus, pre- and post central gyri, superio-frontal gyrus, and inferio parietal gyrus in the right hemisphere than those with optimal levels (all p<0.05 FWE corrected). Discussion Vitamin D levels are associated with reduced cortical thickness and smaller surface area in frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital brain regions in individuals with FEP. Interestingly, these areas complete their maturation well into late adolescence, thus potentially being exposed to low Vitamin D levels over a long period of time may contribute to specific brain structure in adulthood. The identification of a specific brain conformation associated to low levels of Vitamin D would promote greater understanding of the interface between physical and mental illness fostering the development of precision psychiatry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinsuke Koike ◽  
Mao Fujioka ◽  
Yoshihiro Satomura ◽  
Daisuke Koshiyama ◽  
Mariko Tada ◽  
...  

AbstractMany studies have tested the relationship between demographic, clinical, and psychobiological measurements and clinical outcomes in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) and first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, no study has investigated the relationship between multi-modal measurements and long-term outcomes for >2 years. Thirty-eight individuals with UHR and 29 patients with FEP were measured using one or more modalities (cognitive battery, electrophysiological response, structural magnetic resonance imaging, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy). We explored the characteristics associated with 13- and 28-month clinical outcomes. In UHR, the cortical surface area in the left orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus was negatively associated with 13-month disorganized symptoms. In FEP, the cortical surface area in the left insula was positively associated with 28-month global social function. The left inferior frontal gyrus and insula are well-known structural brain characteristics in schizophrenia, and future studies on the pathological mechanism of structural alteration would provide a clearer understanding of the disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Vieira ◽  
Qi-yong Gong ◽  
Walter H L Pinaya ◽  
Cristina Scarpazza ◽  
Stefania Tognin ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite the high level of interest in the use of machine learning (ML) and neuroimaging to detect psychosis at the individual level, the reliability of the findings is unclear due to potential methodological issues that may have inflated the existing literature. This study aimed to elucidate the extent to which the application of ML to neuroanatomical data allows detection of first episode psychosis (FEP), while putting in place methodological precautions to avoid overoptimistic results. We tested both traditional ML and an emerging approach known as deep learning (DL) using 3 feature sets of interest: (1) surface-based regional volumes and cortical thickness, (2) voxel-based gray matter volume (GMV) and (3) voxel-based cortical thickness (VBCT). To assess the reliability of the findings, we repeated all analyses in 5 independent datasets, totaling 956 participants (514 FEP and 444 within-site matched controls). The performance was assessed via nested cross-validation (CV) and cross-site CV. Accuracies ranged from 50% to 70% for surfaced-based features; from 50% to 63% for GMV; and from 51% to 68% for VBCT. The best accuracies (70%) were achieved when DL was applied to surface-based features; however, these models generalized poorly to other sites. Findings from this study suggest that, when methodological precautions are adopted to avoid overoptimistic results, detection of individuals in the early stages of psychosis is more challenging than originally thought. In light of this, we argue that the current evidence for the diagnostic value of ML and structural neuroimaging should be reconsidered toward a more cautious interpretation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Buchy ◽  
Yasser Ad-Dab'bagh ◽  
Claude Lepage ◽  
Ashok Malla ◽  
Ridha Joober ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 34-47
Author(s):  
A. Pigoni ◽  
D. Dwyer ◽  
L. Squarcina ◽  
S. Borgwardt ◽  
B. Crespo-Facorro ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford Cassidy ◽  
Lisa Buchy ◽  
Michael Bodnar ◽  
Jennifer Dell’Elce ◽  
Zia Choudhry ◽  
...  

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