Modelling the effects of the exposome score within the extended psychosis phenotype

Unravelling early transdiagnostic dynamics of psychotic-like experiences in young adults: Results from a cross-lagged panel network analysis

BACKGROUND

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are potential transdiagnostic markers of psychopathology. However, temporal patterns of associations between PLEs and other symptoms remain unclear. Moreover, it needs to be clarified as to whether PLEs might be primary targets for interventions. This study aimed to investigate longitudinal associations of PLEs with other psychopathological symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 1314 young adults (aged 29.3 ± 5.7, 49.2 % women) without a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment completed online assessments, measuring psychopathological symptoms, at baseline and after 6 months. A cross-lagged panel network was analyzed. Output (the sum of edge weights from a specific node to all other nodes) and input (the sum of edge weights to a specific node from all other nodes) centralities were estimated. Age, gender, education, employment, and place of residence were the covariates.

RESULTS

The highest output centrality was found for PLEs while the highest input centrality was observed for obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Centrality metrics of these symptom domains were significantly higher compared to centrality metrics of other psychopathological domains. PLEs showed cross-lagged associations with all other symptom domains. The strongest cross-lagged edge in the network led from PLEs to obsessive-compulsive symptoms (weight = 0.611). It was significantly stronger compared to all other cross-lagged edges in the network. The results were partially replicated in the network of specific symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that PLEs might precede the emergence of other domains of psychopathology. The highest output centrality of PLEs suggests their potential utility as primary targets for early interventions.

Global research trends on the human exposome: a bibliometric analysis (2005-2024)

Exposome represents one of the most pressing issues in the environmental science research field. However, a comprehensive summary of worldwide human exposome research is lacking. We aimed to explore the bibliometric characteristics of scientific publications on the human exposome. A bibliometric analysis of human exposome publications from 2005 to December 2024 was conducted using the Web of Science in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Trends/hotspots were investigated with keyword frequency, co-occurrence, and thematic map. Sex disparities in terms of publications and citations were examined. From 2005 to 2024, 931 publications were published in 363 journals and written by 4529 authors from 72 countries. The number of publications tripled during the last 5 years. Publications written by females (51% as first authors and 34% as last authors) were cited fewer times (13,674) than publications written by males (22,361). Human exposome studies mainly focused on air pollution, metabolomics, chemicals (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pesticides), early-life exposure, biomarkers, microbiome, omics, cancer, and reproductive disorders. Social and built environment factors, occupational exposure, multi-exposure, digital exposure (e.g., screen use), climate change, and late-life exposure received less attention. Our results uncovered high-impact countries, institutions, journals, references, authors, and key human exposome research trends/hotspots. The use of digital exposome technologies (e.g., sensors, and wearables) and data science (e.g., artificial intelligence) has blossomed to overcome challenges and could provide valuable knowledge toward precision prevention. Exposome risk scores represent a promising research avenue.

A systematic review of studies using network analysis to assess dynamics of psychotic-like experiences in community samples

Several studies have used a network analysis to recognize the dynamics and determinants of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in community samples. Their synthesis has not been provided so far. A systematic review of studies using a network analysis to assess the dynamics of PLEs in community samples was performed. Altogether, 27 studies were included. The overall percentage ranks of centrality metrics for PLEs were 23.5% for strength (20 studies), 26.0% for betweenness (5 studies), 29.7% for closeness (6 studies), 26.9% for expected influence (7 studies), and 29.1% for bridge expected influence (3 studies). Included studies covered three topics: phenomenology of PLEs and associated symptom domains (14 studies), exposure to stress and PLEs (7 studies), and PLEs with respect to suicide-related outcomes (6 studies). Several other symptom domains were directly connected to PLEs. A total of 6 studies investigated PLEs with respect to childhood trauma (CT) history. These studies demonstrated that PLEs are directly connected to CT history (4 studies) or a cumulative measure of environmental exposures (1 study). Moreover, CT was found to moderate the association of PLEs with other symptom domains (1 study). Two studies that revealed direct connections of CT with PLEs also found potential mediating effects of cognitive biases and general psychopathology. PLEs were also directly connected to suicide-related outcomes across all studies included within this topic. The findings imply that PLEs are transdiagnostic phenomena that do not represent the most central domain of psychopathology in community samples. Their occurrence might be associated with CT and suicide risk.

Psychotic-like experiences predict the perceived intent to seek treatment: A network perspective

We aimed to investigate as to whether psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) predict the perceived intent to seek treatment. Our secondary aim was to explore which PLEs predict the perceived need to seek treatment using a network analysis. The study was based on a community sample of individuals with a negative history of psychiatric treatment. At baseline, they completed questionnaires recording the presence of PLEs, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. After 6-7 months, they were reassessed with respect to the perceived intent to seek treatment. A total of 1100 individuals were assessed at baseline (aged 27.1 ± 5.1 years, 48.6 % males). The follow-up assessment was completed by 581 individuals (52.8 %). Higher baseline levels of PLEs were associated with a greater intent to seek treatment at the follow-up before (Beta = 0.289, p < 0.001) and after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive and anxiety symptoms (Beta = 0.128, p = 0.004). A network analysis demonstrated that the intent to seek treatment was connected to five nodes of PLEs including "déjà vu experiences" (weight = 0.046), "problems in differentiating reality and imagination" (weight = 0.103), "a lack of control over own ideas or thoughts" (weight = 0.077), "being distracted by distant sounds" (weight = 0.105), and "paranoid thoughts" (weight = 0.145). Findings from the present study indicate that PLEs might contribute to help-seeking behaviors regardless of co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, specific PLEs may differ with respect to their effects on the perceived intent to seek treatment.