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Meyer TD, Godfrey CJ, Walss-Bass C. The UT health Psychological Autopsy Interview Schedule (UTH- PAIS) - Description and reliability of diagnoses and transdiagnostic personality measures. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 156:221-227. [PMID: 36270060 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have used psychological autopsies to evaluate large and diverse populations on transdiagnostically relevant variables such as personality, temperament, and trauma exposure; rather, they tend to focus on specific psychiatric disorders or manner of death. We therefore developed the UT Health Psychological Autopsy Interview Schedule (UTH-PAIS). The measure is described, and our results show that the PAIS diagnoses and dimensions can be reliably assessed. Furthermore, we were able to show that our sample of donated brains overall matches the demographic characteristics of a larger pool of individuals receiving a medical autopsy. In the Discussion we review the strengths and potential limitations of the study and outline in which context the PAIS will prove to be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Meyer
- McGovern Medical School, Faillace Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Christopher J Godfrey
- McGovern Medical School, Faillace Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- McGovern Medical School, Faillace Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Dempsey CL, Benedek DM, Nock MK, Zuromski KL, Brent DA, Ao J, Aliaga PA, Heeringa SG, Kessler RC, Stein MB, Ursano RJ. Social closeness and support are associated with lower risk of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2021; 51:940-954. [PMID: 34196966 PMCID: PMC10615249 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We tested the aspects of social support, unit cohesion, and religiosity hypothesized to be protective factors for suicide among U.S. service members. METHODS This case-control study compared U.S. Army soldiers who died by suicide while on active duty (n = 135) to controls of two types: those propensity score-matched on known sociodemographic risk factors (n = 128); and those controls who had thought about, but not died by, suicide in the past year (n = 108). Data included structured interviews of next of kin (NOK) and Army supervisors (SUP) for each case and control soldier. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of suicide. RESULTS Perceived social closeness and seeking help from others were associated with decreased odds of suicide, as reported by SUP (OR = 0.2 [95% CI = 0.1, 0.5]) and NOK (OR = 0.4 [95% CI = 0.2, 0.8]). Novel reports by SUP informants of high levels of unit cohesion/morale decreased odds of suicide (OR = 0.1 [95% CI = 0.0, 0.2]). Contrary to study hypotheses, no religious affiliation was associated with lower odds of suicide (OR = 0.3 [95% CI = 0.2, 0.6]). CONCLUSIONS Perceived social closeness and unit/group cohesion are associated with lower odds of suicide. These results point toward social intervention strategies as testable components of suicide prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L Dempsey
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David M Benedek
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew K Nock
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kelly L Zuromski
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David A Brent
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jingning Ao
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pablo A Aliaga
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steven G Heeringa
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Family Medicine & Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Health Care System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Robert J Ursano
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Altered levels of interleukins and neurotrophic growth factors in mood disorders and suicidality: an analysis from periphery to central nervous system. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:341. [PMID: 34078872 PMCID: PMC8171230 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukins and neurotrophins levels are altered in the periphery of patients with major depression and suicidal behavior, however it is not clear if similar abnormalities occur in the central nervous system. Our objective was to examine the association of IL-6, IL-1β, BDNF, and GDNF levels between postmortem plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain tissue in a heterogeneous diagnostic subject groups including normal controls, mood disorders only, mood disorders with AUD/SUD (alcohol abuse disorder, substance abuse disorder), and AUD/SUD without mood disorders. To address these questions we collected postmortem plasma (n = 29), CSF (n = 28), and brain (BA10) (n = 57) samples from individuals with mood disorder, mood disorder with AUD/SUD, AUD/SUD and normal controls. These samples were analyzed using a multiplex based luminex assay with a customized 4-plex cytokine/interleukins- IL-6, IL-1β, BDNF, and GDNF human acute phase based on xMAP technology platform. Protein levels were determined using a Luminex 200 instrument equipped with Xponent-analyzing software. We observed IL-6 (p = 2.1e-07), and GDNF (p = 0.046) were significantly correlated between brain and CSF. In addition, IL-6 (p = 0.031), were significantly correlated between brain and plasma. Overall diagnostic group analysis showed a significant difference with brain GDNF, p = 0.0106. Pairwise comparisons showed that GDNF level is-39.9 ± 12 pg/ml, p = 0.0106, was significantly higher than in the brains derived from mood disorders compared to normal controls, -23.8 ± 5.5 pg/ml, p = 0.034. Brain BDNF was higher in suicide (p = 0.0023), males compared to females (p = 0.017), and psychiatric medication treated vs. non-treated (p = 0.005) individuals. Overall, we demonstrate that blood IL-6, GDNF and BDNF could be informative peripheral biomarkers of brain biology associated with mood disorders, substance disorders, and suicide.
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Bortolato M, Walss-Bass C, Thompson PM, Moskovitz J. Manic symptom severity correlates with COMT activity in the striatum: A post-mortem study. World J Biol Psychiatry 2017; 18:247-254. [PMID: 27458023 PMCID: PMC5468118 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2016.1208844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which catalyses the degradation of dopamine and norepinephrine, is posited to participate in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia. In support of this notion, rich evidence has documented that the severity of various BD and schizophrenia symptoms is moderated by rs4680, a single nucleotide polymorphism of the COMT gene featuring a valine (Val)-to-methionine (Met) substitution that results in lower catalytic activity. Nevertheless, the specific relevance of COMT enzymatic activity in the pathophysiology of BD and schizophrenia dimensions remains elusive. METHODS We measured COMT catalytic activity in post-mortem prefrontal cortices, striata and cerebella of schizophrenia and BD patients, as well as non-affected controls. These values were then correlated with rs4680 genotypes and psychopathology scores in the last week of life. RESULTS No direct correlation between COMT activity and rs4680 genotypes was found; however, the severity of manic symptoms was highly correlated with COMT activity in the striatum, irrespective of the diagnostic group. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that COMT striatal activity, but not rs4680 genotype, may serve as a biomarker for manic symptoms. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and assess the neurobiological links between COMT striatal activity and manic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA,Corresponding authors: Marco Bortolato, MD PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, 30 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, . Jackob Moskovitz, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Dr., Lawrence, KS 66045,
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
| | - Peter M. Thompson
- Southwest Brain Bank, Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso, El Paso TX 79905 USA
| | - Jackob Moskovitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA,Corresponding authors: Marco Bortolato, MD PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, 30 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, . Jackob Moskovitz, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Dr., Lawrence, KS 66045,
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Moskovitz J, Walss-Bass C, Cruz DA, Thompson PM, Hairston J, Bortolato M. The enzymatic activities of brain catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and methionine sulphoxide reductase are correlated in a COMT Val/Met allele-dependent fashion. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2015; 41:941-51. [PMID: 25640985 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a primary role in the metabolism of catecholamine neurotransmitters and is implicated in the modulation of cognitive and emotional responses. The best characterized single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the COMT gene consists of a valine (Val)-to-methionine (Met) substitution at codon 108/158. The Met-containing variant confers a marked reduction in COMT catalytic activity. We recently showed that the activity of recombinant COMT is positively regulated by the enzyme Met sulphoxide reductase (MSR), which counters the oxidation of Met residues of proteins. The current study was designed to assess whether brain COMT activity may be correlated to MSR in an allele-dependent fashion. METHODS COMT and MSR activities were measured from post-mortem samples of prefrontal cortices, striata and cerebella of 32 subjects by using catechol and dabsyl-Met sulphoxide as substrates, respectively. Allelic discrimination of COMT Val(108/185) Met SNP was performed using the Taqman 5'nuclease assay. RESULTS Our studies revealed that, in homozygous carriers of Met, but not Val alleles, the activity of COMT and MSR was significantly correlated throughout all tested brain regions. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the reduced enzymatic activity of Met-containing COMT may be secondary to Met sulphoxidation and point to MSR as a key molecular determinant for the modulation of COMT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackob Moskovitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, USA
| | - Dianne A Cruz
- Southwest Brain Bank, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA
| | - Peter M Thompson
- Southwest Brain Bank, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA
| | - Jenaqua Hairston
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
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Melief J, de Wit SJ, van Eden CG, Teunissen C, Hamann J, Uitdehaag BM, Swaab D, Huitinga I. HPA axis activity in multiple sclerosis correlates with disease severity, lesion type and gene expression in normal-appearing white matter. Acta Neuropathol 2013; 126:237-49. [PMID: 23812288 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1140-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Revised: 06/01/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated in most, but not all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and is implicated in disease progression and comorbid mood disorders. In this post-mortem study, we investigated how HPA axis activity in MS is related to disease severity, neurodegeneration, depression, lesion pathology and gene expression in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). In 42 MS patients, HPA axis activity was determined by measuring cortisol in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and counting hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons. Degree of neurodegeneration was based on levels of glutamate, tau and neurofilament in CSF. Duration of MS and time to EDSS 6 served as indicators of disease severity. Glutamate levels correlated with numbers of CRH-expressing neurons, most prominently in primary progressive MS patients, suggesting that neurodegeneration is a strong determinant of HPA axis activity. High cortisol levels were associated with slower disease progression, especially in females with secondary progressive MS. Patients with low cortisol levels had greater numbers of active lesions and tended towards having less remyelinated plaques than patients with high cortisol levels. Interestingly, NAWM of patients with high cortisol levels displayed elevated expression of glucocorticoid-responsive genes, such as CD163, and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory genes, such as tumor necrosis factor-α. Thus, HPA axis hyperactivity in MS coincides with low inflammation and/or high neurodegeneration, and may impact on lesion pathology and molecular mechanisms in NAWM and thereby be of great importance for suppression of disease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Melief
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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