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Thomas M, Rakesh D, Whittle S, Sheridan M, Upthegrove R, Cropley V. The neural, stress hormone and inflammatory correlates of childhood deprivation and threat in psychosis: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 157:106371. [PMID: 37651860 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Childhood adversity increases the risk of developing psychosis, but the biological mechanisms involved are unknown. Disaggregating early adverse experiences into core dimensions of deprivation and threat may help to elucidate these mechanisms. We therefore systematically searched the literature investigating associations between deprivation and threat, and neural, immune and stress hormone systems in individuals on the psychosis spectrum. Our search yielded 74 articles, from which we extracted and synthesized relevant findings. While study designs were heterogeneous and findings inconsistent, some trends emerged. In psychosis, deprivation tended to correlate with lower global cortical volume, and some evidence supported threat-related variation in prefrontal cortex morphology. Greater threat exposure was also associated with higher C-reactive protein, and higher and lower cortisol measures. When examined, associations in controls were less evident. Overall, findings indicate that deprivation and threat may associate with partially distinct biological mechanisms in the psychosis spectrum, and that associations may be stronger than in controls. Dimensional approaches may help disentangle the biological correlates of childhood adversity in psychosis, but more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Thomas
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia.
| | - Divyangana Rakesh
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia; Neuroimaging Department, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia
| | - Margaret Sheridan
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, United States
| | - Rachel Upthegrove
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Early Intervention Service, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Cropley
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia
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Merritt K, Luque Laguna P, Sethi A, Drakesmith M, Ashley SA, Bloomfield M, Fonville L, Perry G, Lancaster T, Dimitriadis SI, Zammit S, Evans CJ, Lewis G, Kempton MJ, Linden DEJ, Reichenberg A, Jones DK, David AS. The impact of cumulative obstetric complications and childhood trauma on brain volume in young people with psychotic experiences. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3688-3697. [PMID: 37903876 PMCID: PMC10730393 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02295-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Psychotic experiences (PEs) occur in 5-10% of the general population and are associated with exposure to childhood trauma and obstetric complications. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these associations are unclear. Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we studied 138 young people aged 20 with PEs (n = 49 suspected, n = 53 definite, n = 36 psychotic disorder) and 275 controls. Voxel-based morphometry assessed whether MRI measures of grey matter volume were associated with (i) PEs, (ii) cumulative childhood psychological trauma (weighted summary score of 6 trauma types), (iii) cumulative pre/peri-natal risk factors for psychosis (weighted summary score of 16 risk factors), and (iv) the interaction between PEs and cumulative trauma or pre/peri-natal risk. PEs were associated with smaller left posterior cingulate (pFWE < 0.001, Z = 4.19) and thalamus volumes (pFWE = 0.006, Z = 3.91). Cumulative pre/perinatal risk was associated with smaller left subgenual cingulate volume (pFWE < 0.001, Z = 4.54). A significant interaction between PEs and cumulative pre/perinatal risk found larger striatum (pFWE = 0.04, Z = 3.89) and smaller right insula volume extending into the supramarginal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus (pFWE = 0.002, Z = 4.79), specifically in those with definite PEs and psychotic disorder. Cumulative childhood trauma was associated with larger left dorsal striatum (pFWE = 0.002, Z = 3.65), right prefrontal cortex (pFWE < 0.001, Z = 4.63) and smaller left insula volume in all participants (pFWE = 0.03, Z = 3.60), and there was no interaction with PEs group. In summary, pre/peri-natal risk factors and childhood psychological trauma impact similar brain pathways, namely smaller insula and larger striatum volumes. The effect of pre/perinatal risk was greatest in those with more severe PEs, whereas effects of trauma were seen in all participants. In conclusion, environmental risk factors affect brain networks implicated in schizophrenia, which may increase an individual's propensity to develop later psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Merritt
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Pedro Luque Laguna
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Arjun Sethi
- Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences, IOPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Drakesmith
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sarah A Ashley
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Bloomfield
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Gavin Perry
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Tom Lancaster
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Department of Psychology, Bath University, Bath, UK
| | - Stavros I Dimitriadis
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stanley Zammit
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Bristol Medical School (PHS), University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - C John Evans
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Glyn Lewis
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Kempton
- Psychosis Studies Department, IOPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David E J Linden
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Derek K Jones
- The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anthony S David
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, UK
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Associations of gestational age with gyrification and neurocognition in healthy adults. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 273:467-479. [PMID: 35904633 PMCID: PMC10070217 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01454-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown that gestational age and birth weight are linked to cognitive performance in adults. On a neurobiological level, this effect is hypothesized to be related to cortical gyrification, which is determined primarily during fetal development. The relationships between gestational age, gyrification and specific cognitive abilities in adults are still poorly understood. In 542 healthy participants, gyrification indices were calculated from structural magnetic resonance imaging T1 data at 3 T using CAT12. After applying a battery of neuropsychological tests, neuropsychological factors were extracted with a factor analysis. We conducted regressions to test associations between gyrification and gestational age as well as birth weight. Moderation analyses explored the relationships between gestational age, gyrification and neuropsychological factors. Gestational age is significantly positively associated with cortical folding in the left supramarginal, bilaterally in the superior frontal and the lingual cortex. We extracted two neuropsychological factors that describe language abilities and working memory/attention. The association between gyrification in the left superior frontal gyrus and working memory/attention was moderated by gestational age. Further, the association between gyrification in the left supramarginal cortex and both, working memory/attention as well as language, were moderated by gestational age. Gyrification is associated with gestational age and related to specific neuropsychological outcomes in healthy adulthood. Implications from these findings for the cortical neurodevelopment of cognitive domains and mental health are discussed.
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Hou J, Schmitt S, Zhao X, Wang J, Chen J, Mao Z, Qi A, Lu Z, Kircher T, Yang Y, Shi J. Neural Correlates of Facial Emotion Recognition in Non-help-seeking University Students With Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:812208. [PMID: 35756282 PMCID: PMC9226575 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since the introduction of the neurodevelopmental perspective of schizophrenia research on individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) has gained increasing interest, aiming at early detection and intervention. Results from fMRI studies investigating behavioral and brain functional changes in UHR during facial emotion recognition, an essential component of social cognition, showed heterogenous results, probably due clinical diversity across these investigations. This fMRI study investigated emotion recognition in a sub-group of the UHR spectrum, namely non-help-seeking, drug-naïve UHR with high cognitive functioning to reveal the neurofunctional underpinnings of their social functioning in comparison to healthy controls. Methods Two large cohorts of students from an elite University (n 1 = 4,040, n 2 = 4,364) were screened firstly with the Prodromal Questionnaires and by surpassing predefined cut-offs then interviewed with the semi-structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes to verify their UHR status. Twenty-one identified non-help-seeking UHR and 23 non-UHR control subjects were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging while classifying emotions (i.e., neutral, happy, disgust and fear) in a facial emotion recognition task. Results Behaviorally, no group differences were found concerning accuracy, reaction times, sensitivity or specificity, except that non-help-seeking UHR showed higher specificity when recognizing neutral facial expressions. In comparison to healthy non-UHR controls, non-help-seeking UHR showed generally higher activation in the superior temporal and left Heschl's gyrus as well as in the somatosensory, insular and midcingulate cortex than the control subjects during the entire recognition task regardless of the emotion categories. In an exploratory analysis, in the non-help-seeking UHR group, functional activity in the left superior temporal gyrus was significantly correlated with deficits in the ability to experience emotions at uncorrected statistical thresholds. Conclusions Compared to healthy controls, non-help-seeking UHR show no behavioral deficits during facial emotion recognition, but functional hyperactivities in brain regions associated with this cognitive process. Our study may inspire future early intervention and provide loci for treatment using neural stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Hou
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Simon Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Clinics for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover, Germany
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Wang
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxing Chen
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziyu Mao
- Ruijin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ansi Qi
- Department of Medical Psychology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Yunbo Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jingyu Shi
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Division of Medical Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Meregalli V, Alberti F, Madan CR, Meneguzzo P, Miola A, Trevisan N, Sambataro F, Favaro A, Collantoni E. Cortical Complexity Estimation Using Fractal Dimension: A Systematic Review of the Literature on Clinical and Nonclinical Samples. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:1547-1583. [PMID: 35229388 PMCID: PMC9313853 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Fractal geometry has recently been proposed as a useful tool for characterizing the complexity of the brain cortex, which is likely to derive from the recurrence of sulci–gyri convolution patterns. The index used to describe the cortical complexity is called fractal dimensional (FD) and was employed by different research exploring the neurobiological correlates of distinct pathological and nonpathological conditions. This review aims to describe the literature on the application of this index, summarize the heterogeneities between studies and inform future research on this topic. Sixty‐two studies were included in the systematic review. The main research lines concern neurodevelopment, aging and the neurobiology of specific psychiatric and neurological disorders. Overall, the included papers indicate that cortical complexity is likely to reduce during aging and in various pathological processes affecting the brain. Nevertheless, the high heterogeneity between studies strongly prevents the possibility of drawing conclusions. Further research considering this index besides other morphological values is needed to better clarify the role of FD in characterizing the cortical structure. Fractal dimension (FD) is a useful tool for the assessment of cortical complexity. In healthy controls, FD is associated with development, aging and cognition. Alterations in FD have been observed in different neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Meregalli
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Paolo Meneguzzo
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miola
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicolò Trevisan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Angela Favaro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
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Westhoff MLS, Ladwig J, Heck J, Schülke R, Groh A, Deest M, Bleich S, Frieling H, Jahn K. Early Detection and Prevention of Schizophrenic Psychosis-A Review. Brain Sci 2021; 12:11. [PMID: 35053755 PMCID: PMC8774083 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychotic disorders often run a chronic course and are associated with a considerable emotional and social impact for patients and their relatives. Therefore, early recognition, combined with the possibility of preventive intervention, is urgently warranted since the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) significantly determines the further course of the disease. In addition to established diagnostic tools, neurobiological factors in the development of schizophrenic psychoses are increasingly being investigated. It is shown that numerous molecular alterations already exist before the clinical onset of the disease. As schizophrenic psychoses are not elicited by a single mutation in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence, epigenetics likely constitute the missing link between environmental influences and disease development and could potentially serve as a biomarker. The results from transcriptomic and proteomic studies point to a dysregulated immune system, likely evoked by epigenetic alterations. Despite the increasing knowledge of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the development of psychotic disorders, further research efforts with large population-based study designs are needed to identify suitable biomarkers. In conclusion, a combination of blood examinations, functional imaging techniques, electroencephalography (EEG) investigations and polygenic risk scores should be considered as the basis for predicting how subjects will transition into manifest psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Lennart Schulze Westhoff
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Johannes Ladwig
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Johannes Heck
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Rasmus Schülke
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Adrian Groh
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Maximilian Deest
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Stefan Bleich
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Helge Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
| | - Kirsten Jahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.L.); (R.S.); (A.G.); (M.D.); (S.B.); (H.F.); (K.J.)
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