1
|
Bojesen KB, Rostrup E, Sigvard AK, Mikkelsen M, Edden RAE, Ebdrup BH, Glenthøj B. The Trajectory of Prefrontal GABA Levels in Initially Antipsychotic-Naïve Patients With Psychosis During 2 Years of Treatment and Associations With Striatal Cerebral Blood Flow and Outcome. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:703-713. [PMID: 38145706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acidergic) function in the prefrontal cortex seems dysfunctional in patients with first-episode psychosis, but the impact of longer-term treatment and relationship to clinical outcomes and striatal activity are unknown. METHODS A longitudinal study of 39 antipsychotic-naïve and benzodiazepine-free patients with psychosis (22.4 ± 5.4 years, 64% women) and 54 matched healthy control participants (HCs) (22.2 ± 4.3 years, 61% women) who were followed up after 6 weeks (28 patients, 51 HCs), 6 months (17 patients, 47 HCs), and 2 years (21 patients, 43 HCs) was completed. GABA levels in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and striatal resting cerebral blood flow were assessed on a 3T magnetic resonance scanner at all visits. RESULTS GABA levels in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex were significantly lower in patients at baseline and after 6 weeks but not after 6 months or 2 years. Analyses of groups separately revealed decreased GABA levels after 2 years in HCs but stable levels in patients. Treatment increased striatal resting cerebral blood flow after 6 weeks and 6 months but not after 2 years. GABA levels were negatively associated with striatal resting cerebral blood flow in both groups at all visits. Last, lower baseline GABA levels in patients were related to less functional improvement after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest a different trajectory of GABA levels and striatal perfusion in first-episode patients over 2 years of antipsychotic treatment compared with HCs and indicate a downregulatory role of prefrontal GABAergic function on the striatum. Moreover, abnormally low prefrontal GABA level at illness onset may be a marker for a more severe prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Borup Bojesen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Center Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
| | - Egill Rostrup
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Center Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Korning Sigvard
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Center Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bjørn Hylsebeck Ebdrup
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Center Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birte Glenthøj
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Center Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Demler VF, Sterner EF, Wilson M, Zimmer C, Knolle F. The impact of spectral basis set composition on estimated levels of cingulate glutamate and its associations with different personality traits. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:320. [PMID: 38664663 PMCID: PMC11044602 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05646-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 1H-MRS is increasingly used in basic and clinical research to explain brain function and alterations respectively. In psychosis research it is now one of the main tools to investigate imbalances in the glutamatergic system. Interestingly, however, the findings are extremely variable even within patients of similar disease states. One reason may be the variability in analysis strategies, despite suggestions for standardization. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the extent to which the basis set configuration- which metabolites are included in the basis set used for analysis- would affect the spectral fit and estimated glutamate (Glu) concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and whether any changes in levels of glutamate would be associated with psychotic-like experiences and autistic traits. METHODS To ensure comparability, we utilized five different exemplar basis sets, used in research, and two different analysis tools, r-based spant applying the ABfit method and Osprey using the LCModel. RESULTS Our findings revealed that the types of metabolites included in the basis set significantly affected the glutamate concentration. We observed that three basis sets led to more consistent results across different concentration types (i.e., absolute Glu in mol/kg, Glx (glutamate + glutamine), Glu/tCr), spectral fit and quality measurements. Interestingly, all three basis sets included phosphocreatine. Importantly, our findings also revealed that glutamate levels were differently associated with both schizotypal and autistic traits depending on basis set configuration and analysis tool, with the same three basis sets showing more consistent results. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights that scientific results may be significantly altered depending on the choices of metabolites included in the basis set, and with that emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting the configuration of the basis set to ensure accurate and consistent results, when using MR spectroscopy. Overall, our study points out the need for standardized analysis pipelines and reporting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena F Demler
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth F Sterner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Wilson
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Knolle
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Livingston NR, De Micheli A, McCutcheon RA, Butler E, Hamdan M, Grace AA, McGuire P, Egerton A, Fusar-Poli P, Modinos G. Effects of Benzodiazepine Exposure on Real-World Clinical Outcomes in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2024:sbae036. [PMID: 38567823 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Animal models indicate GABAergic dysfunction in the development of psychosis, and that benzodiazepine (BDZ) exposure can prevent the emergence of psychosis-relevant phenotypes. However, whether BDZ exposure influences real-world clinical outcomes in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) is unknown. STUDY DESIGN This observational cohort study used electronic health record data from CHR-P individuals to investigate whether BDZ exposure (including hypnotics, eg, zopiclone) reduces the risk of developing psychosis and adverse clinical outcomes. Cox proportional-hazards models were employed in both the whole-unmatched sample, and a propensity score matched (PSM) subsample. STUDY RESULTS 567 CHR-P individuals (306 male, mean[±SD] age = 22.3[±4.9] years) were included after data cleaning. The BDZ-exposed (n = 105) and BDZ-unexposed (n = 462) groups differed on several demographic and clinical characteristics, including psychotic symptom severity. In the whole-unmatched sample, BDZ exposure was associated with increased risk of transition to psychosis (HR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.03-2.52; P = .037), psychiatric hospital admission (HR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.13-3.29; P = .017), home visit (HR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.18-2.28; P = .004), and Accident and Emergency department attendance (HR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.31-2.72; P < .001). However, after controlling for confounding-by-indication through PSM, BDZ exposure did not modulate the risk of any outcomes (all P > .05). In an analysis restricted to antipsychotic-naïve individuals, BDZ exposure reduced the risk of transition to psychosis numerically, although this was not statistically significant (HR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.32-1.08; P = .089). CONCLUSIONS BDZ exposure in CHR-P individuals was not associated with a reduction in the risk of psychosis transition or adverse clinical outcomes. Results in the whole-unmatched sample suggest BDZ prescription may be more likely in CHR-P individuals with higher symptom severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R Livingston
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrea De Micheli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Outreach And Support in South London (OASIS) Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Robert A McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Butler
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marwa Hamdan
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Oxford, UK
| | - Alice Egerton
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Outreach And Support in South London (OASIS) Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gemma Modinos
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Demler VF, Sterner EF, Wilson M, Zimmer C, Knolle F. Association between increased anterior cingulate glutamate and psychotic-like experiences, but not autistic traits in healthy volunteers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12792. [PMID: 37550354 PMCID: PMC10406950 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39881-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite many differences, autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder share environmental risk factors, genetic predispositions as well as neuronal abnormalities, and show similar cognitive deficits in working memory, perspective taking, or response inhibition. These shared abnormalities are already present in subclinical traits of these disorders. The literature proposes that changes in the inhibitory GABAergic and the excitatory glutamatergic system could explain underlying neuronal commonalities and differences. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we investigated the associations between glutamate concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the left/right putamen, and left/right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and psychotic-like experiences (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire) and autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient) in 53 healthy individuals (26 women). To investigate the contributions of glutamate concentrations in different cortical regions to symptom expression and their interactions, we used linear regression analyses. We found that only glutamate concentration in the ACC predicted psychotic-like experiences, but not autistic traits. Supporting this finding, a binomial logistic regression predicting median-split high and low risk groups for psychotic-like experiences revealed ACC glutamate levels as a significant predictor for group membership. Taken together, this study provides evidence that glutamate levels in the ACC are specifically linked to the expression of psychotic-like experiences, and may be a potential candidate in identifying early risk individuals prone to developing psychotic-like experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena F Demler
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth F Sterner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Wilson
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Knolle
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|