Premorbid cannabis use is associated with more symptoms and poorer functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (15) ◽  
pp. 3127-3136 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Ringen ◽  
R. Nesvåg ◽  
S. Helle ◽  
T. V. Lagerberg ◽  
E. H. Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Premorbid Functioning ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

BackgroundCannabis use disorder is associated with an earlier age at onset and a more severe outcome of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The role of cannabis use before the onset of illness (premorbid cannabis use) has not been fully investigated. We here examined how amount and type of premorbid cannabis use was associated with the later course of illness including current substance use, symptoms and level of functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.MethodWe used a naturalistic sample of patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorders with a comprehensive history of illness and substance use. Data on premorbid substance use was obtained from comprehensive self-report. The relationship to outcome was investigated using regression models that included current substance use and premorbid functioning.ResultsPre-schizophrenia cannabis use was significantly associated with more severe psychotic symptoms and impaired functioning. Higher levels of premorbid cannabis use were associated with higher levels of current psychotic symptoms. These associations were independent of current substance use and premorbid functioning. Early use of cannabis (age <17 years) was associated with earlier age at onset of psychosis, independently of potential confounders.ConclusionsPre-psychosis cannabis use affects illness outcome in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and is associated with lower age at onset of psychosis. These findings of independent negative effects of premorbid cannabis use in schizophrenia suggest that a limitation of the general use of cannabis may have beneficial health effects.

scholarly journals Acoustic speech markers for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a diagnostic and symptom-recognition tool

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
J. N. de Boer ◽  
A. E. Voppel ◽  
S. G. Brederoo ◽  
H. G. Schnack ◽  
K. P. Truong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Speech Technology ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Background Clinicians routinely use impressions of speech as an element of mental status examination. In schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, descriptions of speech are used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms. In the current study, we assessed the diagnostic value of acoustic speech parameters in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, as well as its value in recognizing positive and negative symptoms. Methods Speech was obtained from 142 patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and 142 matched controls during a semi-structured interview on neutral topics. Patients were categorized as having predominantly positive or negative symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Acoustic parameters were extracted with OpenSMILE, employing the extended Geneva Acoustic Minimalistic Parameter Set, which includes standardized analyses of pitch (F0), speech quality and pauses. Speech parameters were fed into a random forest algorithm with leave-ten-out cross-validation to assess their value for a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis, and PANSS subtype recognition. Results The machine-learning speech classifier attained an accuracy of 86.2% in classifying patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and controls on speech parameters alone. Patients with predominantly positive v. negative symptoms could be classified with an accuracy of 74.2%. Conclusions Our results show that automatically extracted speech parameters can be used to accurately classify patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and healthy controls, as well as differentiate between patients with predominantly positive v. negatives symptoms. Thus, the field of speech technology has provided a standardized, powerful tool that has high potential for clinical applications in diagnosis and differentiation, given its ease of comparison and replication across samples.

Cannabis Use and Age at Onset of Psychosis: Further Evidence of Interaction with COMT Val158Met Polymorphism

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1382-1382
Author(s):  
M. Fatjó-Vilas ◽  
B. Arias ◽  
G. Estrada ◽  
M.J. Muñoz ◽  
J.M. Ilia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Modulation Effect ◽  
Comt Val158met ◽  
Val158met Polymorphism ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

IntroductionDifferent studies have confirmed the association between cannabis use and psychosis and, also, the relationship between age at first cannabis use and age at onset of psychosis (Henquet et al 2005, Barnes et al 2006). In a young psychiatric sample, we aimed to investigate the correlation between cannabis use and the age at onset of psychotic and non-psychotic symptoms and whether this relationship is modulated by the genetic variability at COMT, CNR1 and CHRNA7genes.MethodsThe sample comprised 157 Caucasian patients (mean age: 17.01 (3.6)) diagnosed following DSM-IV-TR criteria: 80 patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, 77 patients with affective or conduct disorders. Cannabis use was assessed with UNICA-A and DIGS scales (Nurnberger 1994) and 49% individuals were classified as consumers. SNPs were genotyped using Taqman 5′-exonuclease assays.ResultsWe observed a positive relationship between age at first cannabis use and age at onset in, both, schizophrenia-spectrum (β = 1.44 p < 0.001) and other psychiatric disorders (β = 0.56 p < 0.002). An interaction was observed between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cannabis use specifically within schizophrenia-spectrum disorders’ group (β = −2.72 p = 0.04), with Val/Val genotype carriers showing an earlier age of onset than Val/Met carriers, and these, lower than the Met/Met carriers. No modulation effect of CNR1 or CHRNA7 polymorphisms was observed.ConclusionsOur results seem to indicate the importance of maturation timing and brain development in which exposition to cannabis occurs. We provide new evidence about the COMT modulation effect on the association between cannabis use and age at onset of symptoms, specifically in individuals affected by schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Cannabis use and premorbid functioning as predictors of poorer neurocognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Andreas Ringen ◽  
Ingrid Melle ◽  
Akiah O. Berg ◽  
Ingrid Agartz ◽  
Olav Spigset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Premorbid Functioning

Traumatic stress and risk of severe mental illness: A nationwide cohort study

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S92-S92
Author(s):  
N. Okkels ◽  
B. Trabjerg ◽  
M. Arendt ◽  
C. Bøcker Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Mood Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

IntroductionA history of traumatic events is prevalent in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and mood disorders. However, little is known about their etiological relationship.ObjectivesTo explore whether patients with acute or posttraumatic stress disorder are at higher risk of developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or mood disorder.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study using registers covering the entire Danish population, we used the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register to identify patients with ICD-10 diagnoses of acute traumatic stress disorder and/or posttraumatic stress disorder. From inpatient and outpatient mental hospitals, we identified 4371 diagnoses with more than 18 million years of follow-up. Main outcomes and measures were relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of schizophrenia, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder and mood disorder.ResultsThe incidence of traumatic stress disorder (TSD) has increased steadily from 0.6% in 1996 to 6% in 2012, showed a higher incidence in women and an age distribution with a peak-incidence in early adulthood. We found that diagnoses of TSD increase the risk of schizophrenia (RR 5.85, 95% CI 3.59–8.91), schizophrenia spectrum disorder (RR 3.82, 95% CI 2.38–5.75), bipolar disorder (RR 5.83, 95% CI 3.11–9.83) and mood disorder (RR 4.10, 95% CI 3.15–5.22). Risks were high in the first year after diagnosis of TSD and declined going forward in time.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that acute and posttraumatic stress disorder are etiological risk factors for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and mood disorders. If replicated, this may underline treatment of traumatized patients in prevention of severe mental disorder.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Upregulation of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Meixensberger ◽  
Hanna Kuzior ◽  
Bernd Fiebich ◽  
Patrick Süß ◽  
Kimon Runge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pai 1

Abstract IntroductionImmunological explanatory approaches are becoming increasingly important in schizophrenia research. In this context, the function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCSFB) play an essential role. Different adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), are key elements in sustaining the integrity of the BBB and BCSFB. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the levels of different cell adhesion molecules in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders to those of patients with unipolar depression and (2) to analyze their association with the established markers of the BBB/BCSFB function (total protein and albumin quotient [AQ]).Patients and methodsA total of 40 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and 39 age- and sex-matched control patients with unipolar depression were analyzed. The levels of soluble ICAM-1 (s-ICAM-1), soluble VCAM-1 (s-VCAM-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in the CSF were measured using a magnetic bead multiplexing immunoassay.ResultsThe levels of sICAM-1 (p<0.001), sVCAM-1 (p<0.001), and PAI-1 (p<0.001) in the CSF were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder than in patients with unipolar depression. Correlation analyses revealed a significant correlation of protein concentrations with sVCAM-1 levels (r=0.505, p=0.001) and of AQs with the sVCAM-1 (r=0.583, p<0.001) and PAI-1 (r=0.337, p=0.033) levels in patients with schizophrenia.LimitationThe significance of the study is limited by the retrospective research design and by the absence of a healthy control group. The assay used was not previously established for the measurement of CSF.DiscussionResults revealed that sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels in the CSF are higher in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder than in patients with depression. These circulating signaling molecules may indicate endothelial dysfunction causing impaired BBB/BCSFB function in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Consistent with this view, a highly significant correlation of sVCAM-1 with CSF protein and AQs was detected. Upregulation of these cell adhesion molecules might be indicative of a proinflammatory immune response underlying the BBB/BCSFB disturbance in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Further translational and controlled studies on the role of different cell adhesion molecules in schizophrenia are needed.

Perspective-taking deficits in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1581-1586 ◽  
Author(s):  
JASON SCHIFFMAN ◽  
CECILIA W. LAM ◽  
TINA JIWATRAM ◽  
MORTEN EKSTROM ◽  
HOLGER SORENSEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background. This study examined data from a Danish prospective longitudinal project in attempt to address the state/trait controversy regarding theory of mind deficits in schizophrenia. Deficits in perspective-taking – a component of theory of mind – were investigated prospectively among children who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders as adults in comparison to children who did not develop schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Method. A total of 265 high risk and control subjects were studied in 1972. At the time of initial assessment, the Role-Taking Task (RTT) was administered. Two hundred and forty-two of these children were evaluated in 1992 during follow-up examinations. Sixteen developed schizophrenia, 10 developed a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 70 had outcomes of other psychopathology, and 146 did not develop a mental illness.Results. Children who later developed schizophrenia or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder had lower RTT scores, controlling for verbal IQ and age, compared to those who did not develop any mental illness. Although in the expected direction, RTT scores for those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were not significantly different from those who developed a non-psychotic disorder.Conclusions. Deficits in perspective-taking among children who later developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders suggest that a facet of theory of mind is impaired prior to development of schizophrenia. Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that theory of mind deficits in schizophrenia are trait markers of the disorder.

scholarly journals Upregulation of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1134
Author(s):  
Sophie Meixensberger ◽  
Hanna Kuzior ◽  
Bernd L. Fiebich ◽  
Patrick Süß ◽  
Kimon Runge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pai 1

Immunological explanatory approaches are becoming increasingly important in schizophrenia research. In this context, the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCSFB) plays an essential role. Different adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), are key elements in sustaining the integrity of the BBB and BCSFB. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the levels of different cell adhesion molecules in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders to those of patients with unipolar depression and (2) analyze their association with the established markers of the BBB/BCSFB function (CSF total protein and albumin quotient (AQ)). Therefore, a total of 40 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and 39 age- and sex-matched control patients with unipolar depression were analyzed. The levels of soluble ICAM-1 (s-ICAM-1), soluble VCAM-1 (s-VCAM-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in the CSF were measured using a magnetic bead multiplexing immunoassay. The levels of sICAM-1 (p < 0.001), sVCAM-1 (p < 0.001), and PAI-1 (p < 0.001) in the CSF were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder than in patients with unipolar depression. In addition, a significant correlation of sVCAM-1 levels with total protein concentrations (r = 0.454, p = 0.003) and AQ levels (r = 0.512, p = 0.001) in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was observed. The results revealed that sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels in the CSF were higher in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder than in those with depression. These circulating signaling molecules may indicate endothelial dysfunction causing impaired BBB/BCSFB function in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Consistent with this view, a highly significant correlation of sVCAM-1 with CSF protein and AQs was detected. Upregulation of these cell adhesion molecules might be indicative of a proinflammatory immune response underlying the BBB/BCSFB disturbance in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The significance of the study is limited by its retrospective research design and by the absence of a healthy control group. The assay used was not previously established for the measurement of CSF. Further translational and controlled studies of the role of different cell adhesion molecules in schizophrenia are needed.

Sleep and cognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review protocol.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Carruthers ◽  
Gemma Brunetti ◽  
Susan Rossell
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Systematic Review Protocol ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Sleep And Cognition ◽  
The Relationship

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are chronic and debilitating mental illnesses characterised by both cognitive impairments and sleep deficits. In this systematic review protocol, we outline an approach to examine the available literature investigating the relationship between sleep and cognition in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

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