BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels in selected brain regions and cognitive performance in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. MATERIAL/METHODS: Thirty patients (20 male, 10 female; mean age: 22.5 years) with the diagnosis of first-episode schizophrenia and 19 comparable healthy controls were ...

INTRODUCTION: Numerous authors have reported the existence of lateralised abnormalities towards the right side in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: In the present study, a manual line bisection task was used to assess the existence of a visuospatial bias in patients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy subjects and left unilateral ...

OBJECTIVES: Context processing is the adaptive control of current behavior through the use of prior context information. It has been found to be impaired in schizophrenia. Some studies have indicated that, compared with patients with schizophrenia, those with bipolar disorder (BPD) display a similar but less severe neuropsychological pattern of ...

OBJECTIVE: Although clinical trials are needed to advance treatments for bipolar disorder, there has been little empirical research on the capacity of bipolar patients to consent to research. The aim of the present study was to evaluate levels of decisional capacity of bipolar patients compared with those of schizophrenia patients ...

The structural abnormality of planum temporale (PT), a part of the superior temporal heteromodal association cortex involved in auditory and language processing, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, its relationship to clinical manifestations remains unclear. Magnetic resonance images were obtained from 17 right-handed Japanese men with schizophrenia ...

A case of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) following administration of aripiprazole to a man with developmental disabilities who had never received antipsychotic medications and had no history of movement disorders is presented. The patient was a 40-year-old male with developmental disabilities. He was nonverbal, profoundly mentally retarded, and diagnosed with obsessive ...

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, life-threatening but potentially treatable condition. This study was performed to investigate the clinical spectrum, antecedent events and outcome of NMS patients admitted in the Neurology department of a large teaching hospital of North India. Fourteen cases of NMS were taken after a thorough ...

Up to now direct toxic effects or immunological processes have been said to explain clozapine-induced agranulocytosis. However, more recent studies may suggest that not yet metabolized clozapine is taken up by leukocytes and transformed by oxidative processes to apoptosis-inducing metabolites. To verify this hypothesis the concentrations of clozapine were measured ...

This study investigated the ability of schizophrenia patients to volitionally display various emotional expressions. Accuracy and intensity of facial and vocal emotional expression were rated in 26 unmedicated male schizophrenia patients and 20 non-patient male controls while posing emotional facial and vocal expressions. Results indicate that schizophrenia patients, compared to ...

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia patients display an extremely high rate of smoking. Neurosteroids appear to play a possible role in the pathophysiology and management of schizophrenia and have been proposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of nicotine addiction. Although many studies have evaluated blood levels of neurosteroids in schizophrenia patients, only ...

There is increasing evidence that healthy siblings of schizophrenia patients have similar, although milder, neuropsychological deficits than their affected family members. However, the interpretation of these findings has been complicated by methodological differences, for example the selection of relatives studied and the sensitivity of tests used. We studied neuropsychological functioning ...

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of cannabis use in schizophrenia, few studies have examined the potential relationship between cannabis exposure and brain structural abnormalities in schizophrenia. AIMS: To investigate prefrontal grey and white matter regions in patients experiencing a first episode of schizophrenia with an additional diagnosis of cannabis use ...

CONTEXT: Smaller brain volumes have consistently been found in patients with schizophrenia, particularly in gray matter and medial temporal lobe structures. Although several studies have investigated brain volumes in nonpsychotic relatives of patients with schizophrenia, results have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude and extent of brain volume differences ...

Prior voxelwise studies of white matter anisotropy found widespread reductions involving all major fiber tracts of the schizophrenic brain. We set out to confirm these exploratory findings and evaluate their relation to illness severity using a hypothesis-driven region-of-interest approach. 104 schizophrenia patients (51 with good outcomes, 53 with poor outcomes) ...

BACKGROUND: The dopaminergic system is thought to be essentially involved in the pathogenesis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is also evidence for abnormalities in the glutamatergic system and recent theories focus on a disturbed interaction between the two systems as the essential pathogenetic mechanism of ADHD. In the ...

Increased frequency of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) has been inconsistently observed in schizophrenia, and little is known about its functional implications. We investigated whether patients with schizophrenia were more likely than healthy controls to have CSP, and among patients assessed the relationship between CSP, psychiatric symptoms, and selected neuropsychological functions. ...

To evaluate whether the P50 gating deficit is present in young first-episode patients with schizophrenia and their healthy young siblings. An auditory paired-click paradigm was used to assess P50 gating in 53 patients, 27 unaffected siblings, and 28 healthy controls. P50 parameters were compared between patients, sibs, and unrelated controls ...

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have examined the clinical, neuropsychological and pharmacological factors involved in the functional outcome of bipolar disorder despite the gap between clinical and functional recovery. METHODS: A sample of 77 euthymic bipolar patients were included in the study. Using an a priori definition of low versus good functional ...

Anterior cingulate (ACC) hypo-activity is commonly observed in chronically ill schizophrenia patients. However, it is unclear whether this is secondary to persistent illness and/or medication. METHOD: We examined eight antipsychotic-naïve first-episode patients and matched healthy controls undergoing PET scanning while performing the Stroop task. RESULTS: Group-averaged and single-subject analyses showed ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if boarding home placement of patients with schizophrenia decreases the need for acute inpatient treatment, during and after the placement. METHOD: Data was collected from the medical records of 74 patients initially diagnosed with schizophrenia in our hospital from July 2001 to June 2002. The progress of ...

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether there are differences between dual patients with affective disorders regarding the different kinds of substances abused - a topic which has hardly been dealt with in the literature. METHODS: Clinical charts of 94 dual and 94 non-dual patients, matched ...

BACKGROUND: Recent models of emotional disorders and psychosis implicate metacognitive beliefs in the development and maintenance of psychological distress. We predicted that patients with established psychotic disorders and those meeting at risk mental state (ARMS) criteria (and, thus, at increased risk of developing psychosis) would show higher levels of metacognitive ...

Elevated serum homocysteine concentrations are neurotoxic and are strongly implicated as a risk factor for neuropsychiatric disease (Fabender, Mielke, Bertsch, & Hennerici, 1999; Kim & Pae, 1996; Kruman et al., 2000; Reutens & Sachdev, 2002). This study compares homocysteine levels in early stages psychosis patients and healthy controls. Data from ...

The initial prodromal state of psychosis (IPS) is defined as an early disease stage prior to the onset of overt psychosis characterized by sub-threshold or more unspecific psychiatric symptoms. Little is known regarding the biochemical changes during this period. We investigated the metabolic/proteomic profiles of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of first-onset ...

BACKGROUND: Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication associated with a lower suicide rate compared with other antipsychotic agents. Clozapine is used specifically in patients for whom previous therapy was inadequate or not tolerated, and is the only antipsychotic agent associated with the development of myocarditis. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively review all adverse ...

OBJECTIVE: Replicated abnormalities in schizophrenia include decreased cellular immunity. The aim of the study was to verify whether there are some abnormalities in the ultrastructure of lymphocytes in drug-free schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Fifty-nine in-patients with paranoid schizophrenia (DSM-IV 295.30) and 31 normal controls were used. Psychosis severity was assessed by ...

INTRODUCTION: Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a rare delusional disorder in which patients believe that they are infected with parasites, worms, insects, or bacteria. Antipsychotics are the preferred treatment in these patients. METHOD: Case series in which we summarize six patients with DP treated with atypical antipsychotic medications including amisulpride, olanzapine, ...

BACKGROUND: Metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance and increased leptin levels, were noted in patients with schizophrenia who had received antipsychotics. In this study, we examined the leptin levels of antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Seventeen antipsychotic-naïve patients with schizophrenia and 16 sex-, age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched subjects were recruited ...

Diminished hippocampal volume occurs in the anterior segment of some schizophrenic patients, and in the posterior segment in others. The significance of hippocampal pathology in general and these segmental differences in specific is not known. Several lines of evidence suggest anterior hippocampal pathology underlies the life-threatening hyponatremia seen in a ...

OBJECTIVE: Despite the frequency of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in patients with acute agitation in emergency departments (EDs), there are few data about the use of intramuscular (IM) psychotropics in those patients. This is the first open-label study with olanzapine in this setting. METHOD: Measures were collected prospectively for patients ...

OBJECTIVE: We examined striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) binding in bipolar and unipolar depressed patients and compared these values to those obtained from healthy control subjects using the selective DAT radioligand [(99m)Tc]TRODAT-1 and single photon emission computed tomography imaging. We hypothesized that DAT levels might be higher in bipolar versus unipolar ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine nicotine use and its correlates among psychotic patients. METHOD: Longitudinal naturalistic study of 176 patients, diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-related psychotic disorders, and treated with risperidone at study entry. Levels of nicotine use (smoking, snuffing) were measured along with other relevant ratings and measurements (symptoms, drug treatment, ...

Previously, we performed an MRI study that revealed smaller volumes of the subregions of the cerebellar vermis in men and women with chronic schizophrenia. An issue that arose from that study was whether similar structural changes in the cerebellum are found in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. In the present study, ...

BACKGROUND: While clozapine is an effective treatment for refractory schizophrenia, its use is limited by haematological side effects. Treatment options that allow continued prescription of clozapine by tackling these side effects will greatly aid patients for whom this medication is all too often their only hope of recovery. METHOD: In ...

There are inconsistent reports regarding the caudate nucleus volume in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy subjects. The reason for this is that neuroleptic medication may affect the volume of the caudate nucleus in schizophrenic patients. To clarify which antipsychotic medication changes the volume of the caudate nucleus in patients ...

OBJECTIVE: Explore the long-term course of schizophrenia and related disorders. METHOD: Naturalistic study of 225 patients initially treated with risperidone (monotherapy or in combination with other psychotropic drugs) over 5 years. RESULTS: Stable symptomatology and side effects were observed. Clinician GAF scores were 55-61, but patients' self-ratings were higher. Clinician ...

The lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders among schizophrenia patients is close to 50%. The negative consequences of substance abuse in schizophrenia are well documented, but the aetiology of this comorbid condition remains unknown. Mounting evidence suggests that dual-diagnosis patients have fewer negative symptoms and better social skills, compared to ...

The average patient with schizophrenia performs on cognitive tests at the lowest 5% to 10% of the general population. Cognitive impairments impact patients on virtually every aspect of functioning, interfere with patients' ability to engage in real-world tasks, and affect long-term outcome. Therefore, cognitive deficits should be included in the ...

We investigated the genotype frequency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 1298A>C polymorphism in the group of patients with bipolar disorder type I (BDI) (n=200) and schizophrenia (n=200) and in the control group (n=300). Odds ratio (OR) for patients with BD and schizophrenia in 1298CC homozygous state was 3.768 (95% CI=1.752-8.104); P=0.0003; ...

A model of disconnectivity involving abnormalities in the cortex and connecting white matter pathways may explain the clinical manifestations of schizophrenia. Recently, diffusion imaging tractography has made it possible to study white matter pathways in detail and we present here a study of patients with first-episode psychosis using this technique. ...

Assessment of motivation to change substance use can be helpful in evaluating treatment readiness and outcome. However, the utility of self-report measures of motivation with schizophrenia patients is questionable. In the current study patients with schizophrenia and either concurrent cocaine dependence or remitted dependence completed the University of Rhode Island ...

MRI and post-mortem studies indicate an increased prevalence of cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) in schizophrenia and affective disorder. The aim of this study was to characterize the CSP and the septal tissue among patients with schizophrenia, patients with affective disorder, and control subjects. The volumes of CSP and septal tissue ...

Schizophrenia, many believe, reflects an enhanced vulnerability to psychological stress. Controlled exposure to stressors, however, has produced inconclusive results, particularly with regards to neurohormones. Some of the variability may be attributable to the nature and psychological significance of the stimulus and failure to control physiologic confounds. In addition, it is ...

BACKGROUND: Inhibitory measures such as prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (PPI) and event related potential P50 suppression have been widely reported to show deficits in schizophrenia patients. The relationship between PPI and P50 suppression in schizophrenia patients has remained unclear. METHODS: One hundred fifty-six schizophrenia patients and 104 ...

Thirty patients with chronic schizophrenia and 30 age-matched controls performed the Attention Network Test (ANT). A subset of the patient group (n=18) also had available magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of the cingulum bundle (CB) fractional anisotropy and volume. The patients showed a significantly different pattern of ANT ...

Little is known of the relations between psychosis, religion and suicide. One hundred and fifteen outpatients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and 30 inpatients without psychotic symptoms were studied using a semi-structured interview assessing religiousness/spirituality. Their past suicide attempts were examined. Additionally, they were asked about the role (protective or ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability, validity and structure of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) in 257 subjects presenting with acute first episodes of schizophrenia or related disorders. The PSYRATS have been shown to assess dimensions of hallucination and delusions reliably and validly in chronically ...

Several lines of evidence suggest that central brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates food intake, metabolism, and increases in body weight. Reports have also shown that serum BDNF is altered in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotics. This study aimed to determine if there was a relationship between BDNF and antipsychotic-induced weight ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the volumetric and metabolic correlates of caudate nucleus in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients in comparison with healthy controls. METHOD: Twelve antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients and 13 healthy controls underwent (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia. Magnetic resonance imaging volume of caudate nuclei was measured using scion image software. ...

This study aims to find the biomarkers or associated proteins in body fluids of schizophrenia patients so that we can further understand the etiology of schizophrenia. We applied proteomic technologies combining two-dimensional electrophoresis with Coomassie blue staining and mass spectrometry and identified a procedure for the clinical screening of disease-influenced ...