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Bosnjak Kuharic D, Makaric P, Kekin I, Rossini Gajsak L, Zivkovic M, Ostojic D, Silic A, Bajic Z, Lukacevic Lovrencic I, Beezhold J, Rojnic Kuzman M. Changes of neurocognitive status in patients with the first-episode psychosis after 18 months of treatment-A prospective cohort study. Psychiatry Res 2021; 304:114131. [PMID: 34332430 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurocognitive symptoms exert the most influence on treatment outcomes over the course of schizophrenia, starting from the first-episode of psychosis (FEP) onwards. Our aim was to analyze the neurocognitive status of FEP compared to healthy controls (HC), and its change after 18 months of treatment. We performed a study in a sample of 159 patients with FEP and 100 HC. We followed the patients up for 18 months after initial assessment with a battery of neurocognitive tests. We observed statistically significant improvement in the majority of neurocognitive tests after 18 months, but several tests of specific neurocognitive domains (verbal memory, language functions, executive functions) did not show significant differences between the two assessments. The results for the majority of tests obtained from patients with FEP after 18 months of treatment showed significant deterioration compared with HC. Although our study showed significant improvement of baseline neurocognitive deficits in FEP with treatment, this varied across domains and overall performance remained below that of HC. Thus, while it seems that treatment of FEP may help to delay or restore neurocognitive deterioration, it is unclear whether specific areas of neurocognitive deterioration (e.g. verbal domain) would benefit from more time or specific treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Porin Makaric
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Kekin
- Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia
| | | | - Maja Zivkovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia
| | - Drazenka Ostojic
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia; Social Work Study Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ante Silic
- Department of Psychiatry, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Psychology, University Department of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zarko Bajic
- Biometrika Healthcare Research, Zagreb, Croatia; Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Julian Beezhold
- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, United Kingdom; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
| | - Martina Rojnic Kuzman
- Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia; Zagreb School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Ahmed AO, Kramer S, Hofman N, Flynn J, Hansen M, Martin V, Pillai A, Buckley PF. A Meta-Analysis of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Effects on Brain Volume in Schizophrenia: Genotype and Serum Levels. Neuropsychobiology 2021; 80:411-424. [PMID: 33706323 PMCID: PMC8619762 DOI: 10.1159/000514126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM The Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the BDNF gene has established pleiotropic effects on schizophrenia incidence and morphologic alterations in the illness. The effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on brain volume measurements are however mixed seeming to be less established for most brain regions. The current meta-analytic review examined (1) the association of the Val66Met SNP and brain volume alterations in schizophrenia by comparing Met allele carriers to Val/Val homozygotes and (2) the association of serum BDNF with brain volume measurements. METHOD Studies included in the meta-analyses were identified through an electronic search of PubMed and PsycInfo (via EBSCO) for English language publications from January 2000 through December 2017. Included studies had conducted a genotyping procedure of Val66Met or obtained assays of serum BDNF and obtained brain volume data in patients with psychotic disorders. Nonhuman studies were excluded. RESULTS Study 1 which included 52 comparisons of Met carriers and Val/Val homozygotes found evidence of lower right and left hippocampal volumes among Met allele carriers with schizophrenia. Frontal measurements, while also lower among Met carriers, did not achieve statistical significance. Study 2 which included 7 examinations of the correlation between serum BDNF and brain volume found significant associations between serum BDNF levels and right and left hippocampal volume with lower BDNF corresponding to lower volumes. DISCUSSION The meta-analyses provided evidence of associations between brain volume alterations in schizophrenia and variations on the Val66Met SNP and serum BDNF. Given the limited number of studies, it remains unclear if BDNF effects are global or regionally specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony O. Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, New York, USA,*Anthony O. Ahmed, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY 10605 (USA),
| | - Samantha Kramer
- Department of Psychology, Long Island University Post, New York, New York, USA
| | - Naama Hofman
- Department of Psychology, St. John's University, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Flynn
- Department of Psychology, Long Island University Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marie Hansen
- Department of Psychology, Long Island University Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA
| | - Victoria Martin
- Department of Psychology, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anilkumar Pillai
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Peter F. Buckley
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Rampino A, Falcone RM, Giannuzzi A, Masellis R, Antonucci LA, Torretta S. Strategies for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and their Cognitive Outcomes in Schizophrenia: Review of Last Five-year Studies. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health 2021; 17:31-47. [PMID: 34249137 PMCID: PMC8227533 DOI: 10.2174/1745017902117010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive deficits are core features of Schizophrenia, showing poor response to antipsychotic treatment, therefore non-pharmacological rehabilitative approaches to such a symptom domain need to be identified. However, since not all patients with Schizophrenia exhibit the same cognitive impairment profile, individualized rehabilitative approaches should be set up. OBJECTIVES We explored the last five-year literature addressing the issue of cognitive dysfunction response to rehabilitative methodologies in Schizophrenia to identify possible predictors of response and individualized strategies to treat such a dysfunction. CONCLUSION A total of 76 studies were reviewed. Possible predictors of cognitive rehabilitation outcome were identified among patient-specific and approach-specific variables and a general overview of rehabilitative strategies used in the last five years has been depicted. Studies suggest the existence of multifaced and multi-domain variables that could significantly predict pro-cognitive effects of cognitive rehabilitation, which could also be useful for identifying individual-specific rehabilitation trajectories over time.An individualized rehabilitative approach to cognitive impairment in Schizophrenia is possible if taking into account both patient and approach specific predictors of outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Rampino
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa M. Falcone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Arianna Giannuzzi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Rita Masellis
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Linda A. Antonucci
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70122 Bari, Italy
| | - Silvia Torretta
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
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General Functioning in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis After the First 18 Months of Treatment. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2021; 40:366-372. [PMID: 32639289 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the main goals in the treatment of first-episode psychosis (FEP) is achieving functional remission. This study aims to analyze whether initial neurocognitive status and the use of specific pharmacological and psychosocial treatment options in FEP can predict general functioning after 18 months of treatment. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal naturalistic study with a sample of 129 patients with FEP treated at 2 Croatian psychiatric clinics from 2016until 2018. Ordinal regression was used to predict the global level of functioning assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) at the 18th month of treatment from the baseline symptoms (assessed with a set of neurocognitive tests) and different treatment options. RESULTS Higher score on GAF at the 18th month was significantly predicted by female sex, better baseline verbal memory and GAF scores, and the type of treatment. Group multimodal psychosocial treatment, antipsychotic polytherapy, and not being treated with sedatives at baseline predicted better GAF scores at follow-up. In the exploratory analysis, taking sedatives in the final assessment and being rehospitalized due to relapse predicted worse GAF scores at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Although baseline neurocognitive features and baseline general functioning seem to influence the overall long-term functioning of persons with FEP, addition of a multimodal group psychosocial treatment program and appropriate medication seem to be equally important for improving the patients' level of functioning after the FEP.
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Jääskeläinen E, Miettunen J, Ahmed AO. Editorial: Have We Got Better in Making Our Schizophrenia Patients Better? Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:618417. [PMID: 33329164 PMCID: PMC7728736 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.618417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Jääskeläinen
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jouko Miettunen
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anthony O Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University White Plains, New York, NY, United States
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Rojnic Kuzman M, Bosnjak Kuharic D, Ganoci L, Makaric P, Kekin I, Rossini Gajsak L, Prpic N, Bozina T, Bajic Z, Bozina N. Association of CNR1 genotypes with changes in neurocognitive performance after eighteen-month treatment in patients with first-episode psychosis. Eur Psychiatry 2019; 61:88-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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7
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Arakawa Y, Yokoyama K, Tasaki S, Kato J, Nakashima K, Takeyama M, Nakatani A, Suzuki M. Transgenic mice overexpressing miR-137 in the brain show schizophrenia-associated behavioral deficits and transcriptome profiles. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220389. [PMID: 31361772 PMCID: PMC6667145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by positive and negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, but substantial evidence indicates that it has a genetic component. Genome wide association studies demonstrate variants within miR-137 host gene are a risk factor for schizophrenia. However, the direct relationship between the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the dosage of miR-137 remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing miR-137 (miR-137 Tg mice) with the neuron-specific Thy-1 promoter and examined schizophrenia-related phenotypes in these mice. Overexpression of miR-137 was observed in various brain regions of the miR-137 Tg mice, with down-regulation of putative miR-137 targets. MiR-137 Tg mice showed sensory gating deficits in a prepulse inhibition test, social deficits in a sociability and social novelty test, and cognitive deficits in a novel object recognition test. Interestingly, the predicted-altered pathways of the medial prefrontal cortex of miR-137 Tg mice were partially overlapped with those of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in postmortem brain of patients who died in equal to or less than 4 years after initial diagnosis of schizophrenia in published data. These results suggest that overexpression of miR-137 in the whole brain induces the several phenotypes that are relevant to aspects of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Based on these findings, miR-137 Tg mice may have the potential to become a useful tool in researching the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuichi Arakawa
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Yokoyama
- Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinya Tasaki
- Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Junichi Kato
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kosuke Nakashima
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Michiyasu Takeyama
- Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakatani
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Motohisa Suzuki
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Ahmed AO, Strauss GP, Buchanan RW, Kirkpatrick B, Carpenter WT. Schizophrenia heterogeneity revisited: Clinical, cognitive, and psychosocial correlates of statistically-derived negative symptoms subgroups. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 97:8-15. [PMID: 29156414 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Traditional efforts to delineate the clinical heterogeneity of schizophrenia have been unsuccessful because of the absence of a valid, stable, and meaningful subtyping scheme. A clinically-informed nosology supported by multivariate statistical classification methods may provide a better approach for classifying schizophrenia. The goals of the current study were to 1) use multivariate classification methods to validate a clinical subtyping scheme based on the profile of negative symptoms; and 2) following validation to contrast the statistically-derived subgroups to ascertain distinguishing demographic, clinical, cognitive, and functional characteristics. In the current study, 706 people with schizophrenia completed measures of positive and negative symptoms, premorbid adjustment, cognition, and psychosocial functioning. Latent class analysis served to identify the number of negative symptom subgroups in schizophrenia. Next, statistical classification methods-Bayes Theorem and the Base Rate Classification Technique-were used to assign participants into the identified subgroups. Subgroups were compared on external validation variables not used in the classification process via logistic regression and discriminant function analysis. Latent class analysis supported a three-class model of schizophrenia that included deficit, persistent, and transient negative symptom subgroups. Posthoc comparisons showed that demographic characteristics, positive symptoms, premorbid adjustment, and cognitive profiles can distinguish the schizophrenia subgroups with moderate accuracy. The deficit subgroup had the greatest impairments in psychosocial functioning and quality of life variables. Findings suggest that schizophrenia encapsulates qualitatively distinct negative symptom subgroups that differ in their demographic, symptomatic, neuropsychological, and functional profiles. Schizophrenia heterogeneity reflects a combination of non-arbitrary subgroups and severity-based differences in negative symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robert W Buchanan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
| | - Brian Kirkpatrick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nevada School of Medicine, USA
| | - William T Carpenter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
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9
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Yoga for Schizophrenia: a Review of Efficacy and Neurobiology. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-017-0125-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Can Oxytocin Enhance Social Affiliation in Schizophrenia? Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-016-0080-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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11
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Association of serum VEGF levels with prefrontal cortex volume in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:686-92. [PMID: 26169975 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A large body of evidence indicates alterations in brain regional cellular energy metabolism and blood flow in schizophrenia. Among the different molecules regulating blood flow, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is generally accepted as the major factor involved in the process of angiogenesis. In the present study, we examined whether peripheral VEGF levels correlate with changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) volume in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls. Whole-blood samples were obtained from 96 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 83 healthy controls. Serum VEGF protein levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas quantitative PCR was performed to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6, a pro-inflammatory marker implicated in schizophrenia) mRNA levels in the blood samples. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained using a 3T Achieva scanner on a subset of 59 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 65 healthy controls, and prefrontal volumes were obtained using FreeSurfer software. As compared with healthy controls, individuals with schizophrenia had a significant increase in log-transformed mean serum VEGF levels (t(177)=2.9, P=0.005). A significant inverse correlation (r=-0.40, P=0.002) between serum VEGF and total frontal pole volume was found in patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Moreover, we observed a significant positive association (r=0.24, P=0.03) between serum VEGF and IL-6 mRNA levels in patients with schizophrenia. These findings suggest an association between serum VEGF and inflammation, and that serum VEGF levels are related to structural abnormalities in the PFC of people with schizophrenia.
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Effects of glutamate positive modulators on cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled trials. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1151-60. [PMID: 26077694 PMCID: PMC5323255 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hypofunction of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been proposed to have an important role in the cognitive impairments observed in schizophrenia. Although glutamate modulators may be effective in reversing such difficult-to-treat conditions, the results of individual studies thus far have been inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether glutamate positive modulators have beneficial effects on cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. A literature search was conducted to identify double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials in schizophrenia or related disorders, using Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO (last search: February 2015). The effects of glutamate positive modulators on cognitive deficits were evaluated for overall cognitive function and eight cognitive domains by calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs) between active drugs and placebo added to antipsychotics. Seventeen studies (N=1391) were included. Glutamate positive modulators were not superior to placebo in terms of overall cognitive function (SMD=0.08, 95% confidence interval=-0.06 to 0.23) (11 studies, n=858) nor each of eight cognitive domains (SMDs=-0.03 to 0.11) (n=367-940) in this population. Subgroup analyses by diagnosis (schizophrenia only studies), concomitant antipsychotics, or pathway of drugs to enhance the glutamatergic neurotransmission (glycine allosteric site of NMDA receptors or α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors) suggested no procognitive effect of glutamate positive modulators. Further, no effect was found in individual compounds on cognition. In conclusion, glutamate positive modulators may not be effective in reversing overall cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia as adjunctive therapies.
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13
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Ahmed AO, Hunter KM, Goodrum NM, Batten NJ, Birgenheir D, Hardison E, Dixon T, Buckley PF. A randomized study of cognitive remediation for forensic and mental health patients with schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2015; 68:8-18. [PMID: 26228394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive remediation has proven efficacy for improving neurocognition in people with schizophrenia. The current study evaluated the benefits of cognitive remediation on neurocognition, functioning, psychotic symptoms, and aggression in a sample of forensic and mental health patients. Care recipients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 78) receiving services in the forensic and mental health units of a state hospital were randomized to participate in cognitive remediation versus computer games control activities. Participants' neurocognition, functional capacity, experiential recovery, psychotic symptoms, and aggression incidents were assessed at baseline and posttreatment. Cognitive remediation was associated with improvements in several neurocognitive domains and circumscribed domains of functional capacity. People assigned to cognitive remediation experiences greater reductions in negative symptoms, agitation/excitement, and verbal and physical aggression. In addition to improving neurocognition in long-term hospitalized forensic and mental health patients, cognitive remediation may enhance efforts at reducing negative symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and aggression incidents. Forensic settings may represent a new frontier for the clinical dissemination of cognitive remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony O Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, USA.
| | - Kristin M Hunter
- Department of Counseling and Human Development Services, University of Georgia, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Thaddeus Dixon
- School of Nursing, Emory University, USA; Department of Psychology, East Central Regional Hospital, USA
| | - Peter F Buckley
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, USA
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14
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Ahmed AO, Mantini AM, Fridberg DJ, Buckley PF. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurocognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2015; 226:1-13. [PMID: 25681004 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.12.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies suggest that the BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism is associated with the incidence of schizophrenia and neurocognitive functioning. These associations appear to be however somewhat mixed. We conducted two separate meta-analyses to investigate (1) the association between the Val66Met polymorphism and neurocognition in people with schizophrenia and (2) the association between peripheral expression of BDNF and neurocognitive phenotypes. For the first aim, we identified 12 studies and 67 comparisons of Met allele carriers and Val homozygotes. These comparisons included 1890 people with schizophrenia (men=1465, women=553), of whom 972 were Met allele carriers and 918 were Val homozygotes. For the second aim, we identified five studies and 25 correlations of peripheral BDNF and neurocognitive scores. The meta-analysis for the second aim included 414 people with schizophrenia (men=292, women=170). First, we found non-significant difference between the genotype groups on most neurocognitive domains. Second, correlations between peripheral BDNF and neurocognitive phenotypes were minimal but we obtained significant effects for the reasoning and problem-solving domains; thus, higher levels of BDNF expression corresponded to better performance on reasoning/problem-solving tasks. The meta-analyses did not robustly establish an association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and neurocognition in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony O Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY 10605, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, 997 Saint Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
| | - Andrew M Mantini
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, 997 Saint Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Daniel J Fridberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Peter F Buckley
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, 997 Saint Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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