Intrinsic cerebellar functional connectivity of social cognition and theory of mind in first-episode psychosis patients

AbstractNeuroimaging studies have revealed how intrinsic dysconnectivity among cortical regions of the mentalizing network (MENT) and the mirror neuron system (MNS) could explain the theory of mind (ToM) deficit in schizophrenia patients. However, despite the concurrent involvement of the cerebellum with the cortex in social cognition, the dysfunction in intrinsic interplay between the cerebellar nodes of MENT/MNS and the cortex in schizophrenia patients remains unknown. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether resting-state cerebello–cortical dysconnectivity exists in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients in relationship with their ToM deficit. A total of 37 FEP patients and 80 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using a priori-defined cerebellar seeds that functionally connect to the MENT (right crus II) and MNS (right crus I), we compared cerebello–cortical functional connectivities (FCs) in FEP patients and HCs. Correlations between cerebello–parietal connectivities and ToM performance were investigated in FEP patients. FEP patients showed hyperconnectivity between the right crus II and anterior cingulate gyrus and between the right crus I and supplementary motor area, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and right central/parietal operculum (CO/PO). Hypoconnectivity was found between the right crus II and left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) in FEP patients. FCs between the right crus II and left SMG and between the right crus I and right CO/PO were significantly correlated with ToM scores in FEP patients. In accordance with the “cognitive dysmetria” hypothesis, our results highlight the importance of cerbello-cortical dysconnectivities in understanding social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients.

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Face processing of social cognition in patients with first episode psychosis: Its deficits and association with the right subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex

10.1101/2021.03.12.435039 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zui Narita ◽

Hironori Kuga ◽

Peeraya Piancharoen ◽

Andreia Faria ◽

Marina Mihaljevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Response Time ◽

Face Processing ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

First Episode ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Memory Response ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

The Right

ABSTRACTThe clinical importance of social cognition is well acknowledged in patients with psychosis, in particular those with first episode psychosis (FEP). Nevertheless, its brain substrates and circuitries remain elusive, lacking precise analysis between multimodal brain characteristics and behavioral sub-dimensions within social cognition. In the present study, we examined face processing of social cognition in 79 FEP patients and 80 healthy controls (HCs). We looked for a possible correlation between face processing and multimodal MRI characteristics such as resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and brain volume. We observed worse recognition accuracy, longer recognition response time, and longer memory response time in FEP patients when compared with HCs. Of these, memory response time was selectively correlated with specific rsFCs, which included the right subcallosal sub-region of BA24 in the ACC (scACC), only in FEP patients. The volume of this region was also correlated with memory response time in FEP patients. The scACC is functionally and structurally important in FEP-associated abnormalities of face processing measures in social cognition.

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Face processing of social cognition in patients with first episode psychosis: Its deficits and association with the right subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex

Schizophrenia Research ◽

10.1016/j.schres.2021.09.027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 238 ◽

pp. 99-107

Author(s):

Zui Narita ◽

Kun Yang ◽

Hironori Kuga ◽

Peeraya Piancharoen ◽

Semra Etyemez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽

Face Processing ◽

Cingulate Cortex ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

First Episode ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

The Right

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Improved social functioning following social recovery therapy in first episode psychosis: Do social cognition and neurocognition change following therapy, and do they predict treatment response?

Schizophrenia Research ◽

10.1016/j.schres.2020.12.023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 228 ◽

pp. 249-255

Author(s):

Siân Lowri Griffiths ◽

Stephen J. Wood ◽

David Fowler ◽

Nick Freemantle ◽

Joanne Hodgekins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Treatment Response ◽

Social Functioning ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

First Episode ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

Social Recovery ◽

Predict Treatment Response

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Treatment response after 6 and 26 weeks is related to baseline glutamate and GABA levels in antipsychotic-naïve patients with psychosis

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719002277 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (13) ◽

pp. 2182-2193 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kirsten B. Bojesen ◽

Bjørn H. Ebdrup ◽

Kasper Jessen ◽

Anne Sigvard ◽

Karen Tangmose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Poor Response ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

First Episode ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Reference Levels ◽

Clinical Prognosis ◽

Episode Psychosis

AbstractBackgroundPoor response to dopaminergic antipsychotics constitutes a major challenge in the treatment of psychotic disorders and markers for non-response during first-episode are warranted. Previous studies have found increased levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in non-responding first-episode patients compared to responders, but it is unknown if non-responders can be identified using reference levels from healthy controls (HCs).MethodsThirty-nine antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis and 36 matched HCs underwent repeated assessments with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and 3T magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glutamate scaled to total creatine (/Cr) was measured in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left thalamus, and levels of GABA/Cr were measured in ACC. After 6 weeks, we re-examined 32 patients on aripiprazole monotherapy and 35 HCs, and after 26 weeks we re-examined 30 patients on naturalistic antipsychotic treatment and 32 HCs. The Andreasen criteria defined non-response.ResultsBefore treatment, thalamic glutamate/Cr was higher in the whole group of patients but levels normalized after treatment. ACC levels of glutamate/Cr and GABA/Cr were lower at all assessments and unaffected by treatment. When compared with HCs, non-responders at week 6 (19 patients) and week 26 (16 patients) had higher baseline glutamate/Cr in the thalamus. Moreover, non-responders at 26 weeks had lower baseline GABA/Cr in ACC. Baseline levels in responders and HCs did not differ.ConclusionGlutamatergic and GABAergic abnormalities in antipsychotic-naïve patients appear driven by non-responders to antipsychotic treatment. If replicated, normative reference levels for glutamate and GABA may aid estimation of clinical prognosis in first-episode psychosis patients.

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Psychosocial functioning in first-episode psychosis and associations with neurocognition, social cognition, psychotic and affective symptoms

Early Intervention in Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/eip.12210 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 23-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Luyken H. Stouten ◽

Wim Veling ◽

Winfried Laan ◽

Mischa van der Helm ◽

Mark van der Gaag

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

First Episode ◽

Affective Symptoms ◽

Episode Psychosis

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Are There Gender Differences in Social Cognition in First-Episode Psychosis?

Women ◽

10.3390/women1040018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 204-211

Author(s):

Marina Verdaguer-Rodríguez ◽

Raquel López-Carrilero ◽

Marta Ferrer-Quintero ◽

Helena García-Mieres ◽

Luciana Díaz-Cutraro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Attributional Style ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Test Theory ◽

First Episode ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

The Social

The aim of this study was to explore gender differences in social cognition in a sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP). An observational descriptive study was performed with 191 individuals with FEP. Emotion perception was assessed using the Faces Test, theory of mind was assessed using the Hinting Task, and attributional style was assessed using the Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire. No gender differences were found in any of the social cognitive domains. Our results suggest that men and women with FEP achieve similar performances in social cognition. Therefore, targeting specific needs in social cognition regarding gender may not be required in early interventions for psychosis.

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Longitudinal changes in brain metabolites in healthy subjects and patients with first episode psychosis (FEP): a 7-Tesla MRS study

10.1101/2020.08.25.267419 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Min Wang ◽

Peter B. Barker ◽

Nicola Cascella ◽

Jennifer M. Coughlin ◽

Gerald Nestadt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adulthood ◽

Brain Regions ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

7 Tesla ◽

First Episode ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Invasive Approach ◽

Longitudinal Changes ◽

Episode Psychosis

AbstractObjective7 Tesla (T) longitudinal magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers a precise measurment of metabolic levels in human brain via a non-invasive approach. Studying longitudinal changes in neurometabolites could help identify trait and state markers for diseases and understand inconsistent findings from different researchers due to differences in the age of study participants and duration of illness. This study is the first to report novel longitudinal patterns in young adulthood from both physiological and pathological viewpoints using 7T MRS.MethodsUtilizing a four-year longitudinal cohort with 38 first episode psychosis (FEP) patients (onset within 2 years) and 48 healthy controls (HC), the authors examined the annual percentage changes of 9 neurometabolites in 5 brain regions.ResultsBoth FEP patients and HC subjects were found to have significant longitudinal reductions in glutamate (Glu) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Only FEP patients were found to have a significant decrease over time in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (mI), and total choline (tCho: phosphocholine plus glycerophosphocholine) in the ACC. Uniquely, glutathione (GSH) was found to have a near zero annual percentage change in both FEP patients and HC subjects in all 5 brain regions over a four-year timespan in young adulthood.ConclusionsGSH could be a trait marker for diagnostic applications at least in young adulthood. Glu, GABA, NAA, mI, and tCho in the ACC are associated with the patient’s status and could be state markers for mechanistic studies of psychotic disorders, including those for progressive pathological changes and medication effects in young adulthood.

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Resting-state functional connectivity of the striatum predicts improvement in negative symptoms and general functioning in patients with first-episode psychosis: A 1-year naturalistic follow-up study

IBRO Reports ◽

10.1016/j.ibror.2019.07.1458 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. S462-S463

Author(s):

Sanghoon Oh ◽

Minah Kim ◽

Tae Young Lee ◽

Taekwan Kim ◽

Jun Soo Kwon

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

First Episode ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

General Functioning

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The role of social relatedness and self-beliefs in social functioning in first-episode psychosis: Are we overestimating the contribution of illness-related factors?

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.90 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

Author(s):

César González-Blanch ◽

Leonardo A. Medrano ◽

Sarah Bendall ◽

Simon D’Alfonso ◽

Daniela Cagliarini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

First Episode ◽

Related Factors ◽

Social Relatedness ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

Fit Index

Abstract Objective Numerous research studies have demonstrated an association between higher symptom severity and cognitive impairment with poorer social functioning in first-episode psychosis (FEP). By contrast, the influence of subjective experiences, such as social relatedness and self-beliefs, has received less attention. Consequently, a cohesive understanding of how these variables interact to influence social functioning is lacking. Method We used structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect relationships among neurocognition (processing speed) and social cognition, symptoms, and social relatedness (perceived social support and loneliness) and self-beliefs (self-efficacy and self-esteem) in 170 individuals with FEP. Results The final model yielded an acceptable model fit (χ2 = 45.48, comparative fit index = 0.96; goodness of fit index = 0.94; Tucker–Lewis index = 0.94; root mean square error of approximation = 0.06) and explained 45% of social functioning. Negative symptoms, social relatedness, and self-beliefs exerted a direct effect on social functioning. Social relatedness partially mediated the impact of social cognition and negative symptoms on social functioning. Self-beliefs also mediated the relationship between social relatedness and social functioning. Conclusions The observed associations highlight the potential value of targeting social relatedness and self-beliefs to improve functional outcomes in FEP. Explanatory models of social functioning in FEP not accounting for social relatedness and self-beliefs might be overestimating the effect of the illness-related factors.

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