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Biancalani A, Occhionero M, Leuci E, Quattrone E, Azzali S, Paulillo G, Pupo S, Pellegrini P, Menchetti M, Pelizza L. Disorganization in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: psychopathology and treatment response. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01855-3. [PMID: 38914855 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01855-3] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Disorganization is a nuclear dimension of psychosis, especially in schizophrenia. Despite its relevant association with poor prognosis and negative outcomes, it is still under-investigated compared to positive and negative symptoms, in particular at the onset of illness. This study explored disorganization in youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) over a 2-year period. A sample of 180 CHR-P participants (50% males; 51.1% with baseline second-generation antipsychotic medication) recruited within a specialized CHR-P service completed the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Across the follow-up, we examined key associations of disorganization with other domains of psychopathology, functioning, and treatment response using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses. Our results showed a significant longitudinal reduction in disorganization severity levels across the follow-up. This decrease was significantly associated with improvements in negative symptoms and daily functioning, with a shorter duration of untreated psychiatric symptoms, and with baseline equivalent dose of antipsychotic medication. No significant longitudinal associations with other treatment component of the PARMS program were found. Our findings suggest a longitudinal improvement in disorganization dimension in CHR-P individuals, especially in the context of early interventions targeting reduction in the duration of untreated psychiatric symptoms and favoring a prompt antipsychotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Biancalani
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, "Paolo Ottonello" Psychiatry Institute, "Alma Mater Studiorum" Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, Bologna, 40123, Italy
| | - Michele Occhionero
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, "Paolo Ottonello" Psychiatry Institute, "Alma Mater Studiorum" Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, Bologna, 40123, Italy
| | - Emanuela Leuci
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, Parma, 43100, Italy
| | - Emanuela Quattrone
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, Parma, 43100, Italy
| | - Silvia Azzali
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, 43100, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Paulillo
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, Parma, 43100, Italy
| | - Simona Pupo
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma, 43100, Italy
| | - Pietro Pellegrini
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, Parma, 43100, Italy
| | - Marco Menchetti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, "Paolo Ottonello" Psychiatry Institute, "Alma Mater Studiorum" Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, Bologna, 40123, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pelizza
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, "Paolo Ottonello" Psychiatry Institute, "Alma Mater Studiorum" Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, Bologna, 40123, Italy.
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, Parma, 43100, Italy.
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Bologna, Via Castiglione 29, Bologna, 40124, Italy.
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Ricci V, Di Muzio I, Ceci F, Di Carlo F, Mancusi G, Piro T, Paggi A, Pettorruso M, Vellante F, De Berardis D, Martinotti G, Maina G. Aberrant salience in cannabis-induced psychosis: a comparative study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1343884. [PMID: 38260781 PMCID: PMC10801803 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1343884] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Natural Cannabis (NC) and Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCs) use can increase the risk and exacerbate the course of psychotic disorders. These could be influenced by the Aberrant Salience (AS) construct. It refers to an excess of attribution of meaning to stimuli that are otherwise regarded as neutral, thereby transform them into adverse, dangerous, or mysterious entities. This leads the patient to engage in aberrant and consequently incorrect interpretative efforts concerning the normal perception of reality and its relationship with our analytical abilities. AS appears to play a significant role in the onset and perpetuation of psychotic disorders. The internal conflict arising from aberrant attributions of significance leads to delusional thoughts, ultimately culminating in the establishment of a self-sustaining psychosis. Aims To examine the differences between psychoses course not associated with cannabis use and those associated with NC-use and SCs-use, in terms of psychotic and dissociative symptoms, AS, global functioning and suicidal ideation. Methods A sample of 62 patients with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) was divided into 3 groups: non cannabis users (non-users, N = 20); NC-users or rather Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) users (THC-users, N = 21); SCs-users, commonly referred to as SPICE-users (SPICE-users, N = 20). Each group underwent assessments at the onset of psychotic symptoms, as well as at the 3 months and 6 months marks, utilizing a range of psychopathological scales. These included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for investigating psychotic symptoms, the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale for assessing overall functioning, the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) for measuring dissociative symptoms, the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) for evaluating suicidal ideation and the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) scale for gauging AS. Results SPICE-users showed more severe and persistent positive symptoms, while negative symptoms were mostly represented among non-users. Non-users showed better recovery than SPICE-users in global functioning. All groups showed a decrease in both ASI scores and subscale scores. SPICE-users exhibited higher global AS scores and less improvement in this aspect compared to other groups. Conclusion This study may help understanding the role of AS in both non-substance-related and substance-induced psychosis. This knowledge may lead clinician to a better diagnosis and identify patient-tailored psychopharmacological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Ricci
- Department of Neuroscience, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Muzio
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Franca Ceci
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Carlo
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Gianluca Mancusi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Tommaso Piro
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Andrea Paggi
- Department of Neuroscience, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Mauro Pettorruso
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Federica Vellante
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Domenico De Berardis
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service for Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Maina
- Department of Neuroscience, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Italy
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Pelizza L, Leuci E, Quattrone E, Azzali S, Paulillo G, Pupo S, Pellegrini P, Menchetti M. Longitudinal evaluation on negative symptoms in young people at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) of psychosis: results from a 2-year follow-up study in a real-world care setting. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1761-1771. [PMID: 37029806 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01600-2] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Negative Symptoms (NS) severely affect real-world functioning also in young people at UHR for developing psychosis. However, longitudinal research on beneficial effects of specialized treatments for NS in UHR people is still relatively scarce and inconclusive, especially in real-world care settings. The aims of the present research were: (1) to evaluate the longitudinal stability of NS levels in young UHR subjects treated within a specialized "Early Intervention in Psychosis" (EIP) program across a 2-year follow-up period, and (2) to investigate any relevant association of NS changes with the specific treatment components offered within the EIP program. One hundred UHR individuals (aged 12-25 years) completed the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine significant associations between longitudinal changes in NS severity levels and the EIP treatment components. Across the follow-up, a significant decrease in NS clinical severity was observed. This reduction was associated with the intensity of individual psychotherapy sessions provided in the first year of treatment, a shorter duration of untreated illness at entry and the 2-year longitudinal decrease in positive symptom levels. In conclusion, NS are relevant in UHR people, but decrease over time together with the delivery of specialized EIP interventions. Specifically, our results showed that individual psychotherapy may reduce the clinical severity of NS at least during the first year of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pelizza
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, 40123, Bologna, BO, Italy.
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Leuci
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Emanuela Quattrone
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Silvia Azzali
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Amendola 2, 42100, Reggio Emilia, RE, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Paulillo
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Simona Pupo
- Division of Pain Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Pietro Pellegrini
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 1/a, 43100, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Marco Menchetti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Bologna, Via Pepoli 5, 40123, Bologna, BO, Italy
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Merola GP, Boy OB, Fascina I, Pecoraro V, Falone A, Patti A, Santarelli G, Cicero DC, Ballerini A, Ricca V. Aberrant Salience Inventory: A meta-analysis to investigate its psychometric properties and identify screening cutoff scores. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:734-745. [PMID: 37243361 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) is a useful tool to measure salience abnormalities among the general population. There is strong clinical and scientific evidence that salience alteration is linked to psychosis. To the present day, no meta-analysis evaluating ASI's psychometric properties and screening potential has been published. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase were searched using terms including "psychosis," "schizophrenia," and "Aberrant Salience Inventory." Observational and experimental studies employing ASI on populations of non-psychotic controls and patients with psychosis were included. ASI scores and other demographic measures (age, gender, ethnicity) were extracted as outcomes. Individual patients' data (IPD) were collected. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the IPD. RESULTS Eight articles were finally included in the meta-analysis. ASI scores differ significantly between psychotic and non-psychotic populations; a novel three-factor model is proposed regarding subscales structure. Theoretical positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) were calculated and presented together with different cutoff points depending on preselected specific populations of interest. DISCUSSION PPV and NPV values reached levels adequate for ASI to be considered a viable screening tool for psychosis. The factor analysis highlights the presence of a novel subscale that was named "Unveiling experiences." Implications regarding the meaning of the new factor structure are discussed, as well as ASI's potential as a screening tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ottone Baccaredda Boy
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Isotta Fascina
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pecoraro
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Falone
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Patti
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriele Santarelli
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Ballerini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Pugliese V, de Filippis R, Aloi M, Rotella P, Carbone EA, Gaetano R, De Fazio P. Aberrant salience correlates with psychotic dimensions in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2022; 21:25. [PMID: 35786401 PMCID: PMC9250738 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-022-00402-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant salience is a well-known construct associated with the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. However, only a few studies have investigated aberrance salience as a trait, with no study investigating the association between the five aberrant salience domains and psychotic symptoms. We aimed to explore the role of aberrant salience and its domains on psychotic dimensions in both clinically remitted and non-remitted patients. METHODS A sample of 102 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was divided according to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) remission criteria into two groups: remitted and non-remitted. Differences regarding psychotic symptomatology assessed by the PANSS and aberrant salience measured by the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) were explored. Finally, a correlation analysis between the PANSS and the ASI was run. RESULTS Significantly higher ASI scores were evident among non-remitted patients. Positive symptoms (i.e. delusions, conceptual disorganization, and hallucinatory behaviour) and general psychopathology (i.e. postural mannerisms, unusual thought content) were correlated to the aberrant salience subscales 'sharpening of senses', 'heightened emotionality' and 'heightened cognition' and with the ASI total score. Significant correlations emerged between negative symptoms (blunted affect and social withdrawal) and 'heightened cognition'. Finally, lack of spontaneity of conversation was related to the subscales 'heightened emotionality' and 'heightened cognition', as well as to the ASI total score. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results support the hypothesis of an association between aberrant salience and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Further research is needed, especially into the mechanisms underlying salience processing, in addition to social and environmental factors and cognitive variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Pugliese
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Renato de Filippis
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Matteo Aloi
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Paola Rotella
- Department of Mental Health of Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Elvira Anna Carbone
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Raffaele Gaetano
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Fazio
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Poletti M, Pelizza L, Azzali S, Scazza I, Paterlini F, Garlassi S, Chiri LR, Pupo S, Raballo A. Association between psychosocial interventions and aberrant salience in adolescents with early psychosis: A follow-up study. Scand J Psychol 2022; 63:290-296. [PMID: 35285026 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Poletti
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pelizza
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Azzali
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Scazza
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Federica Paterlini
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Sara Garlassi
- Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Simona Pupo
- Service of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Raballo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Center for Translational, Phenomenological and Developmental Psychopathology, Perugia University Hospital, Perugia, Italy
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