scholarly journals Antipsychotic drugs increase Neuregulin1b1 serum levels in first-episode drug-naïve patients and chronic schizophrenia with suggestions for improving the treatment of psychotic symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haidong Yang ◽  
Wen Pan ◽  
Wenhuan Xiao ◽  
Man Yang ◽  
Jianchun Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antipsychotic Drugs ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Drug Naïve

Abstract Background: Neuregulin1 (NRG1) plays a role in neuronal migration, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and neural survival, and has been considered to be among the candidate genes for schizophrenia. This study focused on the variations in serum NRG1b1 levels following antipsychotic treatment and the relationship between NRG1b1 level and improvements in psychotic symptoms in first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) patients and chronic schizophrenia.Methods: A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia were recruited and compared with 79 matched healthy controls. All patients had been drug-naïve for at least four weeks. Serum NRG1b1 levels and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores were measured at the baseline and after four weeks. Serum NRG1b1 levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).Results: Baseline NRG1b1 levels were significantly lower in the patients with schizophrenia compared with the healthy controls. NRG1b1 levels increased significantly following antipsychotic treatment. NRG1b1 levels gradually increased with declining PANSS scores and its three subscales during antipsychotic therapy. The levels of NRG1b1 increased significantly in responders after four weeks of treatment, although non-responders showed no such effect. Correlation analyses showed that the levels of NRG1b1 were negatively correlated with the duration of illness and positively correlated with improvement in symptoms.Conclusion: The levels of serum NRG1b1 and the therapeutic effects gradually increased following treatment, indicating that NRG1b1 may be an indicator of therapy, and that it may also be associated with the pathophysiological mechanism causing schizophrenia, although this possible pathway requires further investigation. Antipsychotic drugs increase Neuregulin1b1 serum levels in first-episode drug-naïve patients and chronic schizophrenia with suggestions for improving the treatment of psychotic symptoms

Changes in the cytokine profile in first episode, drug-naïve patients with psychosis after short-term antipsychotic treatment

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S371-S371
Author(s):  
P. Petrikis ◽  
P. Voulgari ◽  
V. Boumba ◽  
D. Archimandriti ◽  
P. Skapinakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antipsychotic Medication ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionAn increasing body of evidence suggests that antipsychotic medication can cause immunological changes that could be attributed to the amelioration of psychotic symptoms or the metabolic side effects of the drugs. So far, the results of the studies remain controversial.ObjectiveOur aim was to compare the levels of interleukin (IL) IL-2, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) in drug-naïve, first-episode patients with psychosis before and after six weeks of antipsychotic medication.MethodsThirty-nine first episode patients with psychosis were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TGF-β2 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and six weeks after the initiation of antipsychotic medication. In addition, clinical psychopathology was assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) before and after treatment.ResultsSerum levels of IL-2 were significantly higher in the study group six weeks after the initiation of antipsychotic treatment (P < 0.001) while TGF-β2 levels were decreased (P < 0.001) and IL-6 levels were slightly reduced (P < 0.004).ConclusionThe changes in cytokine levels may be attributed to the action of antipsychotic medication and the remission of psychopathology. The reduction in TGF-β2 levels is observed in all patients and with all antipsychotic medications used. TGF-β2 may be a marker of clinical efficacy.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Role of Butyric Acid in Treatment Response in Drug-Naïve First Episode Schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Li ◽  
Xiaoduo Fan ◽  
Xiuxia Yuan ◽  
Lijuan Pang ◽  
Shaohua Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Response ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia ◽  
Risperidone Treatment

Background: Butyric acid, a major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), has an important role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis and brain function. This study investigated the role of butyric acid in treatment response in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia.Methods: The study recruited 56 Chinese Han schizophrenia inpatients with normal body weight and 35 healthy controls. Serum levels of butyric acid were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis at baseline (for all participants) and 24 weeks after risperidone treatment (for patients). Clinical symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for patients at both time points.Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in serum levels of butyric acid between patients and healthy controls (p = 0.206). However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of butyric acid in schizophrenia patients after 24-week risperidone treatment (p = 0.030). The PANSS total and subscale scores were decreased significantly after 24-week risperidone treatment (p's &lt; 0.001). There were positive associations between baseline serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction ratio of the PANSS total and subscale scores after controlling for age, sex, education, and duration of illness (p's &lt; 0.05). Further, there was a positive association between the increase in serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction of the PANSS positive symptoms subscale scores (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) after controlling for potential confounding factors.Conclusions: Increased serum levels of butyric acid might be associated with a favorable treatment response in drug-naïve, first episode schizophrenia. The clinical implications of our findings were discussed.

scholarly journals M192. SENSITIVITY FOR MOTION IS WEAKENED IN FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S209-S209
Author(s):  
Francina Badia ◽  
Daniel Linares ◽  
Albert Compte ◽  
Mireia Rosa ◽  
Josep Dalmau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motion Perception ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Psychotic Episode ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Motion Sensitivity ◽  
First Psychotic Episode

Abstract Background Perceptual spatial suppression is a phenomenon in which the perceived strength of a stimulus in space is reduced when the stimulus is surrounded by other stimuli. For motion perception, two studies so far have suggested that spatial suppression and sensitivity to motion perception is also reduced in patients with schizophrenia. Studies to date have been conducted in patients with chronic schizophrenia, however, whether these abnormalities are present at the onset of the disorder or whether they emerge during the course of the illness has not been examined, and no study has assessed whether these abnormalities are specific to schizophrenia or whether they are present in other psychotic disorders. Furthermore, if reduced spatial suppression and sensitivity for motion in schizophrenia are related to a glutamatergic hypofunction, as suggested by a recent study (Schallmo et al., 2019), these reductions may be more accentuated in patients who fail to respond to first-line antipsychotic treatment. Methods Sample: 33 patients with a first psychotic episode (16 females, age=16.4±0.6) and 17 healthy controls (9 females, age=17.2±0.61). Exclusion criteria for both groups were: intellectual disability according to DSM-V criteria. For healthy controls, exclusion criteria also included having a first degree relative with a history of psychotic disorder, current or past diagnosis of psychiatrics disorders. Instruments: The perceptual test was performed on a tablet, and consisted of a briefly presented grating (small or large) drifted sideways (the direction was chosen at random with equal probability), in which the participant was instructed to report the perceived direction. Clinical assessment at illness onset and 12 week follow-up: Positive and Negative Symptom Scales (PANSS), Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime version and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Non-response to treatment was defined as lack of 50% reduction in PANSS positive or negative scores at 12 weeks, any change in antipsychotics or need for combinations due to lack of clinical response. Psychophysical analysis: Motion sensitivity was estimated independently of lapses of attention, which were assessed by including trials in which the motion stimulus was easily discriminated. Results Patients and healthy controls were homogeneous in age (t=-.720, p=,537) and sex (X2=0.38, p=0.542). In patients, mean treatment response rates was 56.5%. Patients had similar scores of positive and negative symptomatology (positive symptoms= 21±7,13; negative symptoms= 18,4±8,18; general symptoms= 40,7±13,07). At 12 weeks 43,8% had a diagnosis of affective psychosis (bipolar disorder, depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms). Patients with a first psychotic episode, regardless of diagnosis or response to treatment, had less motion sensitivity than healthy controls (f=6.397, p=0.0148). No significant differences were found between groups in surround suppression and no significant correlations were observed between spatial suppression and clinical symptoms. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first study to find abnormal motion sensitivity in patients with a first episode of psychosis. Our measure of sensitivity, given that it was not contaminated by lapses, indicates that patients had a genuine motion perception deficit rather than an inability to focus on the task. Our results also suggest that motion sensitivity may not be specific to patients with schizophrenia but may also characterize affective psychoses. Larger studies may be needed to clarify whether there is a relationship between motion sensitivity and severity of symptoms and response to treatment.

scholarly journals Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress: In Relation to Cognitive Function and Psychopathology in Drug-Naïve, First-Episode Drug-Free Schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Tao ◽  
Yu Miao ◽  
Huihui Li ◽  
Xiuxia Yuan ◽  
Xufeng Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Drug Free ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Objective: The present study aimed to examine whether insulin resistance and oxidative stress are associated with cognitive impairment in first-episode drug-free schizophrenia (SZ) patients.Methods: Ninety first-episode SZ patients and 70 healthy controls were enrolled. Fasting insulin (FINS) and markers of oxidative stress [oxidized glutathione (GSSG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO) and uric acid (UA) levels] were measured in serum before pharmacological treatment was initiated. Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), respectively. In addition, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was also studied.Results: HOMA-IR and serum levels of GSSG and NO were significantly higher in SZ patients than in healthy controls (P &lt; 0.001), while the serum levels of SOD were significantly lower than in healthy controls (P &lt; 0.001). HOMA-IR, GSSG and NO levels were significantly correlated to the total cognitive function scores of the patient group (r = −0.345,−0.369,−0.444, respectively, P &lt; 0.05). But these factors were not co-related to the cognitive functions in the healthy control group. And, levels of SOD, UA were not associated with the total cognitive function scores in both the patient and the healthy control groups. NO was positively correlated with general pathological and the total score in the PANSS, and was negatively correlated with six cognitive domains (r = −0.316 to −0.553, P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: The levels of insulin resistance and oxidative stress are elevated, and correlated with the severity of cognitive impairment in drug-naïve, first-episode SZ patients. Treatment approaches targeting on reducing insulin resistance and oxidative stress may improve cognitive function in SZ patients.

scholarly journals Surface-Based Regional Homogeneity in First-Episode, Drug-Naïve Major Depression: A Resting-State fMRI Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Jie Li ◽  
Xiao-Hua Cao ◽  
Xing-Ting Zhu ◽  
Ai-Xia Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Hui Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resting State ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Regional Homogeneity ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Intersubject Variability ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Left Insula

Background.Previous volume-based regional homogeneity (ReHo) studies neglected the intersubject variability in cortical folding patterns. Recently, surface-based ReHo was developed to reduce the intersubject variability and to increase statistical power. The present study used this novel surface-based ReHo approach to explore the brain functional activity differences between first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients and healthy controls.Methods.Thirty-three first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients and 32 healthy controls participated in structural and resting-state fMRI scans. MDD patients were rated with a 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression prior to the scan.Results.In comparison with the healthy controls, MDD patients showed reduced surface-based ReHo in the left insula. There was no increase in surface-based ReHo in MDD patients. The surface-based ReHo value in the left insula was not significantly correlated with the clinical information or the depressive scores in the MDD group.Conclusions.The decreased surface-based ReHo in the left insula in MDD may lead to the abnormal top-down cortical-limbic regulation of emotional and cognitive information. The surface-based ReHo may be a useful index to explore the pathophysiological mechanism of MDD.

scholarly journals Serum levels of oxidants and protein S100B were associated in the first-episode drug naïve patients with schizophrenia

2019 ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
Lei Liu ◽  
Yanli Li ◽  
Yun Bian ◽  
Fude Yang ◽  
Xianyun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
S100b Protein ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Serum S100b ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Protein S100b ◽  
Drug Free

Background: Patients with schizophrenia have been noted with an elevation of serum S100B protein concentration, but the pathological process is not known. This study was to investigate the relationship between levels of S100B protein and oxidative stress. Methods: General information and blood sample were collected from the first-episode drug naïve or drug-free acute stage of patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and healthy controls. The serum levels of S100B, total oxidants (TOS) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were used to measure the level of oxidative stress in both patients, and healthy controls. General linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association of S100B protein with the levels of oxidative stress. Results: The levels of serum protein S100B were associated with the concentration of both TOS (Beta=15.77; p=0.0038) and MDA (Beta=7.90; p=0.0068) in the first-episode drug-naive patients (n=29).While both associations were no longer significant (p>0.05) in the drug-free acute phase patients (n=29); the levels of serum S100B was still consistently associated with TOS (Beta=12.42;p=0.0026) and MDA(Beta=4.11;p=0.0480) in the combined group of patients group(n=58). Simultaneous analysis of both oxidative markers, we still found that both TOS (Beta=12.88; p=0.0103) and MDA (Beta=6.46; p=0.0167) were associated with the serum level of protein S100B in the first-episode drug-naive patients, but not drug-free acute phase patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest that astrocyte activity, serum levels of oxidants, and their cross-talking might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This warrants a further study for understanding the underlying mechanism.

Cigarette smoking, psychopathology and cognitive function in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia: a case-control study

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1651-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Y. Zhang ◽  
D. C. Chen ◽  
M. H. Xiu ◽  
C. N. Haile ◽  
S. C. He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Positive Symptom ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Drug Naïve

BackgroundAlthough patients with chronic schizophrenia have substantially higher smoking rates than either the general population or patients with other mental illnesses, drug-naive patients with a first episode of schizophrenia have received little systemic study. This study examined smoking rates, the association between smoking and symptom severity and cognitive function in Chinese first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients using cross-sectional and case-control designs.MethodTwo hundred and forty-four drug-naive FES patients and 256 healthy controls matched for gender, age and education completed the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Patients were also rated on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS).ResultsThe rate and quantity of smoking were not significantly higher among FES patients compared to the general population. Among patients, smokers scored higher than non-smokers on the total PANSS and the positive symptom subscale scores. There were no significant associations between cognitive function and smoking in either FES patients or healthy controls.ConclusionsIn contrast to studies in patients with chronic schizophrenia, drug-naive FES patients did not smoke more frequently than the general population. Furthermore, patients with psychotic disorders who smoked did not exhibit significant cognitive differences compared with those who did not smoke. However, smoking may have other detrimental effects on physical and mental health, for example on positive symptoms.

When to initiate antipsychotic treatment for psychotic symptoms: At the premorbid phase or first episode of psychosis?

2020 ◽  
pp. 000486742096981 ◽  
Author(s):  
TianHong Zhang ◽  
LiHua Xu ◽  
YanYan Wei ◽  
XiaoChen Tang ◽  
YeGang Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Antipsychotic Drugs ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Clinical High Risk ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Functional Scores

Objective: Antipsychotic drugs are widely used for treating patients with first episode of psychosis, targeting threshold psychotic symptoms. The clinical high risk of psychosis is characterized as subthreshold psychotic symptoms and it is unclear whether they can also benefit from antipsychotic drugs treatment. This study attempted to determine whether initiating antipsychotic drugs treatment in the clinical high risk of psychosis phase was superior to initiating antipsychotic drugs treatment in the first episode of psychosis phase, after the 2-year symptomatic and functional outcomes. Method: Drawing on 517 individuals with clinical high risk of psychosis from the ShangHai At Risk for Psychosis program, we identified 105 patients who converted to first episode of psychosis within the following 2 years. Patients who initiated antipsychotic drugs while at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR_AP; n = 70) were compared with those who initiated antipsychotic drugs during a first episode of psychosis (FEP_AP; n = 35). Summary scores on positive symptoms and the global function scores at baseline and at 2 months, 1 year and 2 years of follow-up were analyzed to evaluate outcomes. Results: The CHR_AP and FEP_AP groups were not different in the severity of positive symptoms and functioning at baseline. However, the CHR_AP group exhibited significantly more serious negative symptoms and total symptoms than the FEP_AP group. Both groups exhibited a significant reduction in positive symptoms and function ( p < 0.001). Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed group by time interaction for symptomatic ( F = 3.196, df = 3, p = 0.024) and functional scores ( F = 7.306, df = 3, p < 0.001). The FEP_AP group showed higher remission rates than the CHR_AP group (χ2 = 22.270, p < 0.001). Compared to initiating antipsychotic drug treatments in the clinical high risk of psychosis state, initiating antipsychotic drugs treatments in the first episode of psychosis state predicted remission in a regression model for FEP_AP (odds ratio = 5.567, 95% confidence interval = [1.783, 17.383], p = 0.003). Conclusion: For clinical high risk of psychosis, antipsychotic drugs might be not the first choice in terms of long-term remission, which is more reasonable to use at the first episode of psychosis phase.

Neurotrophic proteins and symptom profile in psychotic disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1523-1523
Author(s):  
N. van de Kerkhof ◽  
D. Fekkes ◽  
F. van der Heijden ◽  
W.M.A. Verhoeven
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Symptom Profile ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Significant Difference

BackgroundPsychotic disorders are highly prevalent and are treated with antipsychotics. There are no biological markers to predict or measure treatment effects. Research to neurotrophic proteins Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and S100B demonstrated association with psychotic symptoms and suggested association with treatment outcome and symptomatology.ObjectivesInvestigate the relevance of neurotrophic proteins BDNF and S100B in patients with psychotic disorders treated with antipsychotics.AimsPrimary objective is to investigate the relationship between serum levels of BDNF and S100B and symptomatology at baseline and after six weeks of treatment. Furthermore, a detailed evaluation of symptom profile and treatment effect is performed.Methods80 patients with acute and chronic psychotic disorder were evaluated during six weeks while receiving antipsychotic treatment of any kind. Symptomatology was assessed using CASH, PANSS and CGI-S/I. Biochemical parameters were determined at baseline and after six weeks. Symptomatology and treatment effect were related to biochemical results.ResultsPreliminary analyses show an overall treatment response of 19% (reduction of PANSS). A significant difference was found at baseline between patients with first-episode psychosis and patients with relapse or chronic psychosis (BDNF 12,4 vs. 21,7μg/l P ≤ 0,01, S100B 0,1055 vs. 0,05937 μg/l, P < 0,05). During treatment, serum levels of neurotrophic proteins returned to normal values in both groups.ConclusionsSix weeks of antipsychotic treatment results in a modest symptomatic improvement. In subgroups with first episode psychosis, S100B levels are higher and BDNF levels are lower. The normalization of both serum levels suggests an effect of antipsychotic treatment on brain neurochemical processes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document