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Davies C, Bossong MG, Martins D, Wilson R, Appiah-Kusi E, Blest-Hopley G, Zelaya F, Allen P, Brammer M, Perez J, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Increased hippocampal blood flow in people at clinical high risk for psychosis and effects of cannabidiol. Psychol Med 2024; 54:993-1003. [PMID: 37845827 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hippocampal hyperperfusion has been observed in people at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR), is associated with adverse longitudinal outcomes and represents a potential treatment target for novel pharmacotherapies. Whether cannabidiol (CBD) has ameliorative effects on hippocampal blood flow (rCBF) in CHR patients remains unknown. METHODS Using a double-blind, parallel-group design, 33 CHR patients were randomized to a single oral 600 mg dose of CBD or placebo; 19 healthy controls did not receive any drug. Hippocampal rCBF was measured using Arterial Spin Labeling. We examined differences relating to CHR status (controls v. placebo), effects of CBD in CHR (placebo v. CBD) and linear between-group relationships, such that placebo > CBD > controls or controls > CBD > placebo, using a combination of hypothesis-driven and exploratory wholebrain analyses. RESULTS Placebo-treated patients had significantly higher hippocampal rCBF bilaterally (all pFWE<0.01) compared to healthy controls. There were no suprathreshold effects in the CBD v. placebo contrast. However, we found a significant linear relationship in the right hippocampus (pFWE = 0.035) such that rCBF was highest in the placebo group, lowest in controls and intermediate in the CBD group. Exploratory wholebrain results replicated previous findings of hyperperfusion in the hippocampus, striatum and midbrain in CHR patients, and provided novel evidence of increased rCBF in inferior-temporal and lateral-occipital regions in patients under CBD compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that hippocampal blood flow is elevated in the CHR state and may be partially normalized by a single dose of CBD. CBD therefore merits further investigation as a potential novel treatment for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Davies
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Martins
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Robin Wilson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Grace Blest-Hopley
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fernando Zelaya
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Brammer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jesus Perez
- CAMEO Early Intervention Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
- Institute of Biomedical Research (IBSAL), Department of Medicine, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Brown P, Bakolis I, Appiah-Kusi E, Hallett N, Hotopf M, Blackwood N. Prevalence of mental disorders in defendants at criminal court. BJPsych Open 2022; 8:e92. [PMID: 35545846 PMCID: PMC9169500 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric morbidity in prisons and police custody is well established, but little is known about individuals attending criminal court. There is international concern that vulnerable defendants are not identified, undermining their right to a fair trial. AIMS To explore the prevalence of a wide range of mental disorders in criminal defendants and estimate the proportion likely to be unfit to plead. METHOD We employed two-stage screening methodology to estimate the prevalence of mental illness, neurodevelopmental disorders and unfitness to plead, in 3322 criminal defendants in South London. Sampling was stratified according to whether defendants attended court from the community or custody. Face-to-face interviews, using diagnostic instruments and assessments of fitness to plead, were administered (n = 503). Post-stratification probability weighting provided estimates of the overall prevalence of mental disorders and unfitness to plead. RESULTS Mental disorder was more common in those attending court from custody, with 48.5% having at least one psychiatric diagnosis compared with 20.3% from the community. Suicidality was frequently reported (weighted prevalence 71.2%; 95% CI 64.2-77.3). Only 16.7% of participants from custody and 4.6% from the community were referred to the liaison and diversion team; 2.1% (1.1-4.0) of defendants were estimated to be unfit to plead, with a further 3.2% (1.9-5.3) deemed 'borderline unfit'. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of mental illness and neurodevelopmental disorders in defendants is high. Many are at risk of being unfit to plead and require additional support at court, yet are not identified by existing services. Our evidence challenges policy makers and healthcare providers to ensure that vulnerable defendants are adequately supported at court.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Brown
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Ioannis Bakolis
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | | | - Matthew Hotopf
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Nigel Blackwood
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK; and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Davies C, Appiah-Kusi E, Wilson R, Blest-Hopley G, Bossong MG, Valmaggia L, Brammer M, Perez J, Allen P, Murray RM, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Altered relationship between cortisol response to social stress and mediotemporal function during fear processing in people at clinical high risk for psychosis: a preliminary report. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 272:461-475. [PMID: 34480630 PMCID: PMC8938358 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01318-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that people at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR) have a blunted cortisol response to stress and altered mediotemporal activation during fear processing, which may be neuroendocrine-neuronal signatures of maladaptive threat responses. However, whether these facets are associated with each other and how this relationship is affected by cannabidiol treatment is unknown. We examined the relationship between cortisol response to social stress and mediotemporal function during fear processing in healthy people and in CHR patients. In exploratory analyses, we investigated whether treatment with cannabidiol in CHR individuals could normalise any putative alterations in cortisol-mediotemporal coupling. 33 CHR patients were randomised to 600 mg cannabidiol or placebo treatment. Healthy controls (n = 19) did not receive any drug. Mediotemporal function was assessed using a fearful face-processing functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm. Serum cortisol and anxiety were measured immediately following the Trier Social Stress Test. The relationship between cortisol and mediotemporal blood-oxygen-level-dependent haemodynamic response was investigated using linear regression. In healthy controls, there was a significant negative relationship between cortisol and parahippocampal activation (p = 0.023), such that the higher the cortisol levels induced by social stress, the lower the parahippocampal activation (greater deactivation) during fear processing. This relationship differed significantly between the control and placebo groups (p = 0.033), but not between the placebo and cannabidiol groups (p = 0.67). Our preliminary findings suggest that the parahippocampal response to fear processing may be associated with the neuroendocrine (cortisol) response to experimentally induced social stress, and that this relationship may be altered in patients at clinical high risk for psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Davies
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Robin Wilson
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Grace Blest-Hopley
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Matthijs G. Bossong
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lucia Valmaggia
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.37640.360000 0000 9439 0839National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Brammer
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jesus Perez
- grid.450563.10000 0004 0412 9303CAMEO Early Intervention Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK ,grid.35349.380000 0001 0468 7274Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK ,grid.416167.30000 0004 0442 1996Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA
| | - Robin M. Murray
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK ,grid.37640.360000 0000 9439 0839National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK ,grid.37640.360000 0000 9439 0839Outreach and Support in South London (OASIS) Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
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Davies C, Wilson R, Appiah-Kusi E, Blest-Hopley G, Brammer M, Perez J, Murray RM, Allen P, Bossong MG, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. A single dose of cannabidiol modulates medial temporal and striatal function during fear processing in people at clinical high risk for psychosis. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:311. [PMID: 32921794 PMCID: PMC7487274 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0862-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotional dysregulation and anxiety are common in people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) and are associated with altered neural responses to emotional stimuli in the striatum and medial temporal lobe. Using a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group design, 33 CHR patients were randomised to a single oral dose of CBD (600 mg) or placebo. Healthy controls (n = 19) were studied under identical conditions but did not receive any drug. Participants were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a fearful face-processing paradigm. Activation related to the CHR state and to the effects of CBD was examined using a region-of-interest approach. During fear processing, CHR participants receiving placebo (n = 15) showed greater activation than controls (n = 19) in the parahippocampal gyrus but less activation in the striatum. Within these regions, activation in the CHR group that received CBD (n = 15) was intermediate between that of the CHR placebo and control groups. These findings suggest that in CHR patients, CBD modulates brain function in regions implicated in psychosis risk and emotion processing. These findings are similar to those previously evident using a memory paradigm, suggesting that the effects of CBD on medial temporal and striatal function may be task independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Davies
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Wilson
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Grace Blest-Hopley
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Brammer
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jesus Perez
- grid.450563.10000 0004 0412 9303CAMEO Early Intervention Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robin M. Murray
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.35349.380000 0001 0468 7274Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK ,grid.416167.3Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY USA
| | - Matthijs G. Bossong
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Philip McGuire
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.37640.360000 0000 9439 0839National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK ,grid.37640.360000 0000 9439 0839Outreach And Support in South London (OASIS) Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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Hurley J, Jolley S, Gibbons O, Williams A, Nath Varma S, Bhandari S, Mukherjee K, Garraway H, Jones C, Aker N, Appiah-Kusi E, Weaver T. A five-year prospective evaluation of a new community psychosis service in North London: introducing the Recovery and Enablement Track (RET). Psychosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2020.1803954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Hurley
- Tower Hamlets Early Intervention Service, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Suzanne Jolley
- Department of Psychology, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Orla Gibbons
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Suchi Bhandari
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | - Kajori Mukherjee
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | - Hilary Garraway
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | - Cerys Jones
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | - Narin Aker
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Timothy Weaver
- Department of Mental Health and Social Work, Middlesex University, London, UK
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Appiah-Kusi E, Wilson R, Colizzi M, Foglia E, Klamerus E, Caldwell A, Bossong MG, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Childhood trauma and being at-risk for psychosis are associated with higher peripheral endocannabinoids. Psychol Med 2020; 50:1862-1871. [PMID: 31422779 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719001946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence has been accumulating regarding alterations in components of the endocannabinoid system in patients with psychosis. Of all the putative risk factors associated with psychosis, being at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) has the strongest association with the onset of psychosis, and exposure to childhood trauma has been linked to an increased risk of development of psychotic disorder. We aimed to investigate whether being at-risk for psychosis and exposure to childhood trauma were associated with altered endocannabinoid levels. METHOD We compared 33 CHR participants with 58 healthy controls (HC) and collected information about previous exposure to childhood trauma as well as plasma samples to analyse endocannabinoid levels. RESULTS Individuals with both CHR and experience of childhood trauma had higher N-palmitoylethanolamine (p < 0.001) and anandamide (p < 0.001) levels in peripheral blood compared to HC and those with no childhood trauma. There was also a significant correlation between N-palmitoylethanolamine levels and symptoms as well as childhood trauma. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an association between CHR and/or childhood maltreatment and elevated endocannabinoid levels in peripheral blood, with a greater alteration in those with both CHR status and history of childhood maltreatment compared to those with either of those risks alone. Furthermore, endocannabinoid levels increased linearly with the number of risk factors and elevated endocannabinoid levels correlated with the severity of CHR symptoms and extent of childhood maltreatment. Further studies in larger cohorts, employing longitudinal designs are needed to confirm these findings and delineate the precise role of endocannabinoid alterations in the pathophysiology of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
| | - R Wilson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
| | - M Colizzi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Policlinico 'G. B. Rossi', P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - E Foglia
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
| | - E Klamerus
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
| | - A Caldwell
- King's College London, Mass Spectometry Facility, Franklin Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - M G Bossong
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - P McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
| | - S Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, LondonSE5 8AF, UK
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Simplicio MD, Appiah-Kusi E, Wilkinson P, Watson P, Meiser-Stedman C, Kavanagh DJ, Holmes EA. Imaginator: A Proof-of-Concept Feasibility Trial of a Brief Imagery-Based Psychological Intervention for Young People Who Self-Harm. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2020; 50:724-740. [PMID: 32057131 PMCID: PMC7613067 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Imaginator study tested the feasibility of a short mental imagery-based psychological intervention for young people who self-harm and used a stepped-wedge design to investigate effects on self-harm frequency reduction at 3 and 6 months. METHOD A total of 38 participants aged 16-25 were recruited via community self-referral and mental health services. Participants were randomized to immediate delivery of Functional Imagery Training (FIT) or usual care followed by delayed delivery after 3 months. FIT comprised two face-to-face sessions, five phone sessions, and use of a smartphone app. Outcomes' assessment was blind to allocation. RESULTS Three quarters of those who began treatment completed face-to-face sessions, and 57% completed five or more sessions in total. Self-harm frequency data were obtained on 76% of the sample at 3 months (primary outcome) and 63% at 6 months. FIT produced moderate reductions in self-harm frequency at 3 months after immediate (d = 0.65) and delayed delivery (d = 0.75). The Immediate FIT group maintained improvements from 3 to 6 months (d = 0.05). Participants receiving usual care also reduced self-harm (d = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS A brief mental imagery-based psychological intervention targeting self-harm in young people is feasible and may comprise a novel transdiagnostic treatment for self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Simplicio
- Centre for Psychiatry, Brain Sciences Division, Imperial College London, London, UK,MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- King’s College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), London, UK
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Watson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - David J. Kavanagh
- Centre for Children’s Health Research, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, and School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Appiah-Kusi E, Petros N, Wilson R, Colizzi M, Bossong MG, Valmaggia L, Mondelli V, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Effects of short-term cannabidiol treatment on response to social stress in subjects at clinical high risk of developing psychosis. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1121-1130. [PMID: 31915861 PMCID: PMC7113209 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Stress is a risk factor for psychosis and treatments which mitigate its harmful effects are needed. Cannabidiol (CBD) has antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects. OBJECTIVES We investigated whether CBD would normalise the neuroendocrine and anxiety responses to stress in clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) patients. METHODS Thirty-two CHR patients and 26 healthy controls (HC) took part in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and their serum cortisol, anxiety and stress associated with public speaking were estimated. Half of the CHR participants were on 600 mg/day of CBD (CHR-CBD) and half were on placebo (CHR-P) for 1 week. RESULTS One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant effect of group (HC, CHR-P, CHR-CBD (p = .005) on cortisol reactivity as well as a significant (p = .003) linear decrease. The change in cortisol associated with experimental stress exposure was greatest in HC controls and least in CHR-P patients, with CHR-CBD patients exhibiting an intermediate response. Planned contrasts revealed that the cortisol reactivity was significantly different in HC compared with CHR-P (p = .003), and in HC compared with CHR-CBD (p = .014), but was not different between CHR-P and CHR-CBD (p = .70). Across the participant groups (CHR-P, CHR-CBD and HC), changes in anxiety and experience of public speaking stress (all p's < .02) were greatest in the CHR-P and least in the HC, with CHR-CBD participants demonstrating an intermediate level of change. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that it is worthwhile to design further well powered studies which investigate whether CBD may be used to affect cortisol response in clinical high risk for psychosis patients and any effect this may have on symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - N. Petros
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - R. Wilson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - M. Colizzi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK ,Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, Policlinico “G. B. Rossi”, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - M. G. Bossong
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK ,Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht University Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L. Valmaggia
- Department of Psychology, IoPPN, King’s College London, London, PO Box 77 UK ,National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - V. Mondelli
- National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK ,Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - P. McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK ,National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - S. Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, PO Box 63, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK ,National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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Wilson R, Bossong MG, Appiah-Kusi E, Petros N, Brammer M, Perez J, Allen P, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Cannabidiol attenuates insular dysfunction during motivational salience processing in subjects at clinical high risk for psychosis. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:203. [PMID: 31439831 PMCID: PMC6706374 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence points towards the antipsychotic potential of cannabidiol. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the antipsychotic effect of cannabidiol remain unclear. We investigated this in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study. We investigated 33 antipsychotic-naïve subjects at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) randomised to 600 mg oral cannabidiol or placebo and compared them with 19 healthy controls. We used the monetary incentive delay task while participants underwent fMRI to study reward processing, known to be abnormal in psychosis. Reward and loss anticipation phases were combined to examine a motivational salience condition and compared with neutral condition. We observed abnormal activation in the left insula/parietal operculum in CHR participants given placebo compared to healthy controls associated with premature action initiation. Insular activation correlated with both positive psychotic symptoms and salience perception, as indexed by difference in reaction time between salient and neutral stimuli conditions. CBD attenuated the increased activation in the left insula/parietal operculum and was associated with overall slowing of reaction time, suggesting a possible mechanism for its putative antipsychotic effect by normalising motivational salience and moderating motor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Wilson
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Matthijs G. Bossong
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,0000000090126352grid.7692.aDepartment of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Natalia Petros
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Brammer
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cCentre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jesus Perez
- 0000 0004 0412 9303grid.450563.1CAMEO Early Intervention Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,0000 0001 0468 7274grid.35349.38Cognition, Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (CNNI) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- 0000 0001 2322 6764grid.13097.3cDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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Bhattacharyya S, Wilson R, Appiah-Kusi E, O’Neill A, Brammer M, Perez J, Murray R, Allen P, Bossong MG, McGuire P. Effect of Cannabidiol on Medial Temporal, Midbrain, and Striatal Dysfunction in People at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry 2018; 75:1107-1117. [PMID: 30167644 PMCID: PMC6248101 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.2309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Importance Cannabidiol (CBD) has antipsychotic effects in humans, but how these are mediated in the brain remains unclear. Objective To investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms that underlie the therapeutic effects of CBD in psychosis. Design, Setting, and Participants In this parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in London, United Kingdom, 33 antipsychotic medication-naive participants at clinical high risk (CHR) of psychosis and 19 healthy control participants were studied. Data were collected from July 2013 to October 2016 and analyzed from November 2016 to October 2017. Interventions A total of 16 participants at CHR of psychosis received a single oral dose of 600 mg of CBD, and 17 participants at CHR received a placebo. Control participants were not given any drug. All participants were then studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing a verbal learning task. Main Outcomes and Measures Brain activation during verbal encoding and recall, indexed using the blood oxygen level-dependent hemodynamic response fMRI signal. Results Of the 16 participants in the CBD group, 6 (38%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 22.43 (4.95) years; of 17 in the placebo group, 10 (59%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 25.35 (5.24) years; and of 19 in the control group, 8 (42%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 23.89 (4.14) years. Brain activation (indexed using the median sum of squares ratio of the blood oxygen level-dependent hemodynamic response effects model component to the residual sum of squares) was analyzed in 15 participants in the CBD group, 16 in the placebo group, and 19 in the control group. Participants receiving placebo had reduced activation relative to controls in the right caudate during encoding (placebo: median, -0.027; interquartile range [IQR], -0.041 to -0.016; control: median, 0.020; IQR, -0.022 to 0.056; P < .001) and in the parahippocampal gyrus and midbrain during recall (placebo: median, 0.002; IQR, -0.016 to 0.010; control: median, 0.035; IQR, 0.015 to 0.039; P < .001). Within these 3 regions, activation in the CBD group was greater than in the placebo group but lower than in the control group (parahippocampal gyrus/midbrain: CBD: median, -0.013; IQR, -0.027 to 0.002; placebo: median, -0.007; IQR, -0.019 to 0.008; control: median, 0.034; IQR, 0.005 to 0.059); the level of activation in the CBD group was thus intermediate to that in the other 2 groups. There were no significant group differences in task performance. Conclusions and Relevance Cannabidiol may partially normalize alterations in parahippocampal, striatal, and midbrain function associated with the CHR state. As these regions are critical to the pathophysiology of psychosis, the influence of CBD at these sites could underlie its therapeutic effects on psychotic symptoms. Trial Registration isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN46322781.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Wilson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aisling O’Neill
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Brammer
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jesus Perez
- CAMEO Early Intervention Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Allen
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthijs G. Bossong
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Brown P, Stahl D, Appiah-Kusi E, Brewer R, Watts M, Peay J, Blackwood N. Fitness to plead: Development and validation of a standardised assessment instrument. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194332. [PMID: 29698396 PMCID: PMC5919482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of an individual to participate in courtroom proceedings is assessed by clinicians using legal ‘fitness to plead’ criteria. Findings of ‘unfitness’ are so rare that there is considerable professional unease concerning the utility of the current subjective assessment process. As a result, mentally disordered defendants may be subjected unfairly to criminal trials. The Law Commission in England and Wales has proposed legal reform, as well as the utilisation of a defined psychiatric instrument to assist in fitness to plead assessments. Similar legal reforms are occurring in other jurisdictions. Our objective was to produce and validate a standardised assessment instrument of fitness to plead employing a filmed vignette of criminal proceedings. The instrument was developed in consultation with legal and clinical professionals, and was refined using standard item reduction methods in two initial rounds of testing (n = 212). The factorial structure, test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the resultant instrument were assessed in a further round (n = 160). As a result of this iterative process a 25-item scale was produced, with an underlying two-factor structure representing the foundational and decision-making abilities underpinning fitness to plead. The sub-scales demonstrate good internal consistency (factor 1: 0·76; factor 2: 0·65) and test-retest stability (0·7) as well as excellent convergent validity with scores of intelligence, executive function and mentalising abilities (p≤0·01 in all domains). Overall the standardised Fitness to Plead Assessment instrument has good psychometric properties. It has the potential to ensure that the significant numbers of mentally ill and cognitively impaired individuals who face trial are objectively assessed, and the courtroom process critically informed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Brown
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Daniel Stahl
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Brewer
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Watts
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jill Peay
- Department of Law, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel Blackwood
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Bossong MG, Wilson R, Appiah-Kusi E, McGuire P, Bhattacharyya S. Human Striatal Response to Reward Anticipation Linked to Hippocampal Glutamate Levels. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 21:623-630. [PMID: 29444252 PMCID: PMC6030901 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunctional reward processing is associated with a number of psychiatric disorders, such as addiction and schizophrenia. It is thought that reward is regulated mainly by dopamine transmission in the ventral striatum. Contemporary animal models suggest that striatal dopamine concentrations and associated behaviors are related to glutamatergic functioning in the ventral hippocampus. However, in humans the association between reward-related ventral striatal response and hippocampal glutamate levels is unclear. METHODS Nineteen healthy participants were studied using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure hippocampal glutamate levels, and functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess striatal activation and functional connectivity during performance of a monetary incentive delay task. RESULTS We found that ventral striatal activation related to reward processing was correlated with hippocampal glutamate levels. In addition, context-dependent functional coupling was demonstrated between the ventral striatum and both the lingual gyrus and hippocampus during reward anticipation. Elevated hippocampal glutamate levels were inversely related to context-dependent functional connectivity between the ventral striatum and the anterior hippocampus while anticipating reward. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that human striatal responses to reward are influenced by hippocampal glutamate levels. This may be relevant for psychiatric disorders associated with abnormal reward processing such as addiction and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom,Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands,Correspondence: Matthijs G. Bossong, PhD, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, A01.126, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands ()
| | - Robin Wilson
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
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13
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Appiah-Kusi E, Fisher HL, Petros N, Wilson R, Mondelli V, Garety PA, Mcguire P, Bhattacharyya S. Do cognitive schema mediate the association between childhood trauma and being at ultra-high risk for psychosis? J Psychiatr Res 2017; 88:89-96. [PMID: 28103519 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to childhood trauma has been associated with psychotic symptoms, being at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR), and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Negative self-beliefs have been shown to partially mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and paranoia and have been shown to be characteristic of patients with psychosis. However, whether the association between childhood trauma and being at high risk of developing psychosis (e.g., UHR) and paranoia symptoms is mediated by altered cognitive schema is unknown and warrants investigation to inform preventive interventions. Data was collected on 30 UHR patients from Outreach and Support in South London about exposure to childhood trauma, cognitive schema, paranoia and cannabis use. Relative to healthy controls (n = 38), UHR patients were significantly more likely to report exposure to various types of childhood trauma (emotional and sexual abuse, and emotional and physical neglect), had more negative schema and less positive schema about themselves and others, and were more likely to use cannabis more than once a month. Emotional neglect was found to be significantly associated with UHR status even after controlling for the effects of previous exposure to cannabis use (b = 0.262, 95% CI: 0.115-0.408), and this association was partially mediated by negative self-schema (b = 0.045, 95% CI: 0.004-0.159). Similarly, emotional neglect was significantly associated with paranoia (b = 1.354, 95% CI: 0.246-2.462), and this association was partially mediated by negative self-schema (b = 0.988, 95% CI: 0.323-1.895). These findings provide preliminary evidence about the cognitive mechanisms that may underlie the association between childhood trauma and later risk for psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Appiah-Kusi
- King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 67, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - H L Fisher
- King's College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 80, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - N Petros
- King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 67, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - R Wilson
- King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 67, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - V Mondelli
- King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 92, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - P A Garety
- King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 77, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - P Mcguire
- King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 67, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - S Bhattacharyya
- King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Box PO 67, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK.
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Abstract
The aim of this article is to summarize current evidence regarding alterations in the neuroendocrine stress response system and endocannabinoid system and their relationship in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Exposure to stress is linked to the development of a number of psychiatric disorders including psychosis. However, the precise role of stress in the development of psychosis and the possible mechanisms that might underlie this are not well understood. Recently the cannabinoid hypothesis of schizophrenia has emerged as a potential line of enquiry. Endocannabinoid levels are increased in patients with psychosis compared with healthy volunteers; furthermore, they increase in response to stress, which suggests another potential mechanism for how stress might be a causal factor in the development of psychosis. However, research regarding the links between stress and the endocannabinoid system is in its infancy. Evidence summarized here points to an alteration in the baseline tone and reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as well as in various components of the endocannabinoid system in patients with psychosis. Moreover, the precise nature of the inter-relationship between these two systems is unclear in man, especially their biological relevance in the context of psychosis. Future studies need to simultaneously investigate HPA axis and endocannabinoid alterations both at baseline and following experimental perturbation in healthy individuals and those with psychosis to understand how they interact with each other in health and disease and obtain mechanistic insight as to their relevance to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Appiah-Kusi
- Department of Psychosis Studies,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 63,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
| | - E Leyden
- Department of Psychosis Studies,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 63,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
| | - S Parmar
- Department of Psychosis Studies,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 63,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
| | - V Mondelli
- Department of Psychological Medicine,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 92,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
| | - P McGuire
- Department of Psychosis Studies,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 63,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
| | - S Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN),PO Box 63,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AF,UK
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