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Boudriot E, Gabriel V, Popovic D, Pingen P, Yakimov V, Papiol S, Roell L, Hasanaj G, Xu S, Moussiopoulou J, Priglinger S, Kern C, Schulte EC, Hasan A, Pogarell O, Falkai P, Schmitt A, Schworm B, Wagner E, Keeser D, Raabe FJ. Signature of Altered Retinal Microstructures and Electrophysiology in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Is Associated With Disease Severity and Polygenic Risk. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01262-9. [PMID: 38679358 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optical coherence tomography and electroretinography studies have revealed structural and functional retinal alterations in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). However, it remains unclear which specific retinal layers are affected; how the retina, brain, and clinical symptomatology are connected; and how alterations of the visual system are related to genetic disease risk. METHODS Optical coherence tomography, electroretinography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were applied to comprehensively investigate the visual system in a cohort of 103 patients with SSDs and 130 healthy control individuals. The sparse partial least squares algorithm was used to identify multivariate associations between clinical disease phenotype and biological alterations of the visual system. The association of the revealed patterns with individual polygenic disease risk for schizophrenia was explored in a post hoc analysis. In addition, covariate-adjusted case-control comparisons were performed for each individual optical coherence tomography and electroretinography parameter. RESULTS The sparse partial least squares analysis yielded a phenotype-eye-brain signature of SSDs in which greater disease severity, longer duration of illness, and impaired cognition were associated with electrophysiological alterations and microstructural thinning of most retinal layers. Higher individual loading onto this disease-relevant signature of the visual system was significantly associated with elevated polygenic risk for schizophrenia. In case-control comparisons, patients with SSDs had lower macular thickness, thinner retinal nerve fiber and inner plexiform layers, less negative a-wave amplitude, and lower b-wave amplitude. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates multimodal microstructural and electrophysiological retinal alterations in individuals with SSDs that are associated with disease severity and individual polygenic burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Boudriot
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Vanessa Gabriel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - David Popovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Pauline Pingen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vladislav Yakimov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergi Papiol
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Roell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; NeuroImaging Core Unit Munich, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Genc Hasanaj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Evidence-Based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Simiao Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Joanna Moussiopoulou
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Siegfried Priglinger
- Department of Ophthalmology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Kern
- Department of Ophthalmology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eva C Schulte
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, partner site Munich-Augsburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Pogarell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, partner site Munich-Augsburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, partner site Munich-Augsburg, Germany; Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Benedikt Schworm
- Department of Ophthalmology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elias Wagner
- Evidence-Based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Keeser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; NeuroImaging Core Unit Munich, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Munich Center for Neurosciences, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Florian J Raabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
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Komatsu H, Onoguchi G, Silverstein SM, Jerotic S, Sakuma A, Kanahara N, Kakuto Y, Ono T, Yabana T, Nakazawa T, Tomita H. Retina as a potential biomarker in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:464-482. [PMID: 38081943 PMCID: PMC11116118 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02340-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abnormal findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and electroretinography (ERG) have been reported in participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). This study aims to reveal the pooled standard mean difference (SMD) in retinal parameters on OCT and ERG among participants with SSDs and healthy controls and their association with demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. METHODS Using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PSYNDEX, we searched the literature from inception to March 31, 2023, using specific search terms. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD4202235795) and conducted according to PRISMA 2020. RESULTS We included 65 studies in the systematic review and 44 in the meta-analysis. Participants with SSDs showed thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), macular ganglion cell layer- inner plexiform cell layer, and retinal thickness in all other segments of the macula. A meta-analysis of studies that excluded SSD participants with diabetes and hypertension showed no change in results, except for pRNFL inferior and nasal thickness. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the pooled SMD of pRNFL temporal thickness between the left and right eyes. Meta-regression analysis revealed an association between retinal thinning and duration of illness, positive and negative symptoms. In OCT angiography, no differences were found in the foveal avascular zone and superficial layer foveal vessel density between SSD participants and controls. In flash ERG, the meta-analysis showed reduced amplitude of both a- and b-waves under photopic and scotopic conditions in SSD participants. Furthermore, the latency of photopic a-wave was significantly shorter in SSD participants in comparison with HCs. DISCUSSION Considering the prior report of retinal thinning in unaffected first-degree relatives and the results of the meta-analysis, the findings suggest that retinal changes in SSDs have both trait and state aspects. Future longitudinal multimodal retinal imaging studies are needed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of these changes and to clarify their utility in individual patient monitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Komatsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
- Miyagi Psychiatric Center, Natori, Japan.
| | - Goh Onoguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Steven M Silverstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Stefan Jerotic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Atsushi Sakuma
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Kanahara
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Kakuto
- Miyagi Psychiatric Center, Natori, Japan
- Department of Community Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Takeshi Yabana
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toru Nakazawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmic Imaging and Information Analytics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tomita
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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Shew W, Zhang DJ, Menkes DB, Danesh-Meyer HV. Optical Coherence Tomography in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:19-30. [PMID: 38021252 PMCID: PMC10654004 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Inner retinal atrophy has been demonstrated in schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the role of contemporary Fourier domain OCT devices in SSD. Methods MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo, PYSNDEX, World Health Organization, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception until May 2022. All peer-reviewed adult SSD case-control studies using Fourier domain OCT were included. Ocular pathologies known to affect retinal OCT scans were excluded. Search, data appraisal, and summary data extraction were independently performed by 2 authors. Results The review criteria was met by k = 36 studies, with k = 24 studies (1074 cases, 854 controls) suitable for meta-analysis. The SSD group exhibited a thinner global peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (-3.26 μm, 95% CI, -5.07 to -1.45, I2 = 64%, k = 21), thinner average macular layer (-7.88 μm, 95% CI, -12.73 to -3.04, I2 = 65%, k = 11), and thinner macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform sublayer (-2.44 μm, 95% CI, -4.13 to -0.76, I2 = 30%, k = 8) compared with the control group. Retinal nerve fiber layer findings remained significant after exclusion of metabolic disease, low quality, outlier, and influential studies. Studies involving eye examinations to exclude eye disease were associated with greater atrophy in SSD. Except for cardiometabolic disease, most studies did not report clinically significant covariate data known to influence retinal thickness. Conclusions Individuals with SSD generally exhibited retinal atrophy, possibly paralleling reduced brain volumes documented in clinical imaging. Prospective longitudinal studies that collect clinical data, including various illness phases, and control for confounders will be necessary to evaluate retinal atrophy as a biomarker in SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Shew
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Daniel J. Zhang
- Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David B. Menkes
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Helen V. Danesh-Meyer
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Prasannakumar A, Kumar V, Mailankody P, Appaji A, Battu R, Berendschot TTJM, Rao NP. A systematic review and meta-analysis of optical coherence tomography studies in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:707-720. [PMID: 37070475 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2023.2203231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Due to the common neurodevelopmental origin and easy accessibility, the retina serves as a surrogate marker for changes in the brain. Hence, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a tool to examine the neuronal layers of retina has gained importance in investigating psychiatric disorders. Several studies in the last decade have reported retinal structural alterations in schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the findings are inconsistent. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate alterations in OCT parameters in patients with SCZ, BD and MDD. METHODS We searched electronic databases for studies that examined OCT parameters in patients with SCZ, BD and MDD published up to January 2023. The primary outcome measures were thickness and volumes of the retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL). We conducted meta-analysis using a random effects model. RESULTS The searches yielded 2638 publications of which 43 studies were included in the final analysis across all disorders. Compared to controls, the RNFL was thinner in SCZ patients (SMD = -0.37, p = <0.001) and BD patients (SMD = -0.67, p = < 0.001), but not in MDD patients (SMD = -0.08, p = 0.54). On quadrant wise analysis, temporal quadrant RNFL was thinner in SCZ but not in BD, while all other quadrants were thinner in both SCZ and BD. CONCLUSION We found significant reductions in RNFL thickness in SCZ and BD, but not in MDD. The differential involvement in various quadrants and parameters across the disorders has potential implications for using retinal parameters as a diagnostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Prasannakumar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Pooja Mailankody
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Abhishek Appaji
- Department of Medical Electronics, BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Department of Opthalmology, University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rajani Battu
- Department of Opthalmology, Centre for Eye Genetics and Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Tos T J M Berendschot
- Department of Opthalmology, University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Naren P Rao
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Spironolactone alleviates schizophrenia-related reversal learning in Tcf4 transgenic mice subjected to social defeat. SCHIZOPHRENIA 2022; 8:77. [PMID: 36171421 PMCID: PMC9519974 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00290-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCognitive deficits are a hallmark of schizophrenia, for which no convincing pharmacological treatment option is currently available. Here, we tested spironolactone as a repurposed compound in Tcf4 transgenic mice subjected to psychosocial stress. In this ‘2-hit’ gene by environment mouse (GxE) model, the animals showed schizophrenia-related cognitive deficits. We had previously shown that spironolactone ameliorates working memory deficits and hyperactivity in a mouse model of cortical excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) dysbalance caused by an overactive NRG1-ERBB4 signaling pathway. In an add-on clinical study design, we used spironolactone as adjuvant medication to the standard antipsychotic drug aripiprazole. We characterized the compound effects using our previously established Platform for Systematic Semi-Automated Behavioral and Cognitive Profiling (PsyCoP). PsyCoP is a widely applicable analysis pipeline based on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework aiming at facilitating translation into the clinic. In addition, we use dimensional reduction to analyze and visualize overall treatment effect profiles. We found that spironolactone and aripiprazole improve deficits of several cognitive domains in Tcf4tg x SD mice but partially interfere with each other’s effect in the combination therapy. A similar interaction was detected for the modulation of novelty-induced activity. In addition to its strong activity-dampening effects, we found an increase in negative valence measures as a side effect of aripiprazole treatment in mice. We suggest that repurposed drug candidates should first be tested in an adequate preclinical setting before initiating clinical trials. In addition, a more specific and effective NRG1-ERBB4 pathway inhibitor or more potent E/I balancing drug might enhance the ameliorating effect on cognition even further.
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Komatsu H, Onoguchi G, Jerotic S, Kanahara N, Kakuto Y, Ono T, Funakoshi S, Yabana T, Nakazawa T, Tomita H. Retinal layers and associated clinical factors in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3592-3616. [PMID: 35501407 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01591-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The retina shares structural and functional similarities with the brain. Furthermore, structural changes in the retina have been observed in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated retinal abnormalities and their association with clinical factors for SSD. METHODS Studies related to retinal layers in SSD patients were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and PSYNDEX databases from inception to March 31, 2021. We screened and assessed the eligibility of the identified studies. EZR ver.1.54 and the metafor package in R were used for the meta-analysis and a random-effects or fixed-effects model was used to report standardized mean differences (SMDs). RESULTS Twenty-three studies (2079 eyes of patients and 1571 eyes of controls) were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The average peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, average macular thickness (MT), and macular ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) thickness were significantly lower in patients than in controls (n = 14, 6, and 3, respectively; SMD = -0.33, -0.49, and -0.43, respectively). Patients also had significantly reduced macular volume (MV) compared to controls (n = 7; SMD = -0.53). The optic cup volume (OCV) was significantly larger in patients than in controls (n = 3; SMD = 0.28). The meta-regression analysis indicated an association between several clinical factors, such as duration of illness and the effect size of the pRNFL, macular GCL-IPL, MT, and MV. CONCLUSION Thinning of the pRNFL, macular GCL-IPL, MT, and MV and enlargement of the OCV in SSD were observed. Retinal abnormalities may be applicable as state/trait markers in SSDs. The accumulated evidence was mainly cross-sectional and requires verification by longitudinal studies to characterize the relationship between OCT findings and clinical factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Komatsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan. .,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. .,Miyagi Psychiatric Center, Natori, Japan.
| | - Goh Onoguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Stefan Jerotic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nobuhisa Kanahara
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.,Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Kakuto
- Miyagi Psychiatric Center, Natori, Japan.,Department of Community Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Shunichi Funakoshi
- Miyagi Psychiatric Center, Natori, Japan.,Department of Community Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yabana
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toru Nakazawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Collaborative Program for Ophthalmic Drug Discovery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmic Imaging and Information Analytics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tomita
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Disaster Psychiatry, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Silverstein SM, Lai A. The Phenomenology and Neurobiology of Visual Distortions and Hallucinations in Schizophrenia: An Update. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:684720. [PMID: 34177665 PMCID: PMC8226016 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.684720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by visual distortions in ~60% of cases, and visual hallucinations (VH) in ~25-50% of cases, depending on the sample. These symptoms have received relatively little attention in the literature, perhaps due to the higher rate of auditory vs. visual hallucinations in psychotic disorders, which is the reverse of what is found in other neuropsychiatric conditions. Given the clinical significance of these perceptual disturbances, our aim is to help address this gap by updating and expanding upon prior reviews. Specifically, we: (1) present findings on the nature and frequency of VH and distortions in schizophrenia; (2) review proposed syndromes of VH in neuro-ophthalmology and neuropsychiatry, and discuss the extent to which these characterize VH in schizophrenia; (3) review potential cortical mechanisms of VH in schizophrenia; (4) review retinal changes that could contribute to VH in schizophrenia; (5) discuss relationships between findings from laboratory measures of visual processing and VH in schizophrenia; and (6) integrate findings across biological and psychological levels to propose an updated model of VH mechanisms, including how their content is determined, and how they may reflect vulnerabilities in the maintenance of a sense of self. In particular, we emphasize the potential role of alterations at multiple points in the visual pathway, including the retina, the roles of multiple neurotransmitters, and the role of a combination of disinhibited default mode network activity and enhanced state-related apical/contextual drive in determining the onset and content of VH. In short, our goal is to cast a fresh light on the under-studied symptoms of VH and visual distortions in schizophrenia for the purposes of informing future work on mechanisms and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Silverstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.,Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Adriann Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
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