BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6(IL-6)contributes to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.However,there was no study concerning the relationship between IL...BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6(IL-6)contributes to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.However,there was no study concerning the relationship between IL-6 concentrations and clinical features in the chronic phase of early-onset schizophrenia(EOS).AIM To investigate the relationship between serum IL-6 concentration and the clinical features of EOS.METHODS We measured serum IL-6 Levels from 74 patients with chronic schizophrenia,including 33 with age at onset<21 years(EOS group)and 41 with onset≥21 years in[adult-onset schizophrenia(AOS)group],and from 41 healthy controls.Symptom severities were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).RESULTS Serum IL-6 concentrations were higher in both EOS and AOS groups than healthy controls(F=22.32,P<0.01),but did not differ significantly between EOS and AOS groups(P>0.05)after controlling for age,body mass index,and other covariates.Negative symptom scores were higher in the EOS group than the AOS group(F=6.199,P=0.015).Serum IL-6 concentrations in the EOS group were negatively correlated with both total PANSS-negative symptom score(r=-0.389,P=0.032)and avolition/asociality subscore(r=-0.387,P=0.026).CONCLUSION Patients with EOS may have more severe negative symptoms than those with adult-onset schizophrenia during the chronic phase of the illness.IL-6 signaling may regulate negative symptoms and its avolition/asociality subsymptoms among the early-onset chronic schizophrenic patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve(CR)and the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)Val/Met polymorphism are reportedly linked to negative symptoms in schizophrenia.However,the regulatory effect of the COMT genotype on the rela...BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve(CR)and the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)Val/Met polymorphism are reportedly linked to negative symptoms in schizophrenia.However,the regulatory effect of the COMT genotype on the relationship between CR and negative symptoms is still unexamined.AIM To investigate whether the relationship between CR and negative symptoms could be regulated by the COMT Val/Met polymorphism.METHODS In a cross-sectional study,54 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia underwent assessments for the COMT genotype,CR,and negative symptoms.CR was estimated using scores in the information and similarities subtests of a short form of the Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.RESULTS COMT Met-carriers exhibited fewer negative symptoms than Val homozygotes.In the total sample,significant negative correlations were found between negative symptoms and information,similarities.Associations between information,similarities and negative symptoms were observed in Val homozygotes only,with information and similarities showing interaction effects with the COMT genotype in relation to negative symptoms(information,β=-0.282,95%CI:-0.552 to-0.011,P=0.042;similarities,β=-0.250,95%CI:-0.495 to-0.004,P=0.046).CONCLUSION This study provides initial evidence that the association between negative symptoms and CR is under the regulation of the COMT genotype in schizophrenia.展开更多
BACKGROUND Art therapies are advocated by national bodies,such as the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,to alleviate the negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia.The last decad...BACKGROUND Art therapies are advocated by national bodies,such as the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,to alleviate the negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia.The last decade has however,seen several new larger well-controlled trials published suggesting an update is timely.AIM To asses randomised controlled trials(RCT)of art therapies for reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia–particularly negative symptoms.METHODS Searches of PubMed and Scopus were conducted until May 2019 for RCTs examining the impact of art therapies on psychosis(positive,negative and total)symptoms in people diagnosed with schizophrenia.Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Random effects meta-analyses were used to derive overall effect sizes.Moderator analyses were conducted using both metaregression and categorical comparisons.RESULTS We identified 133 articles,of which 9 RCTs involving 948 participants(475 assigned to art therapies and 473 controls)met our inclusion criteria.Using random effects models,we calculated pooled effect sizes(Hedges g)for end-oftrial symptomatic outcomes.Effect sizes both for total symptoms[g=-0.27,95%confidence interval(CI)-0.60 to 0.05,k=6]and for positive symptoms(g=-0.10,95%CI-0.35 to 0.15,k=6)were non-significant;however,we did find significant reduction of negative symptoms(g=-0.42,95%CI-0.70 to-0.14,k=9).Metaregression revealed that negative symptom reduction was larger in trials with a greater proportion of women and in trials with younger patients.Crucially,the negative symptom reduction following art therapies was limited to lower quality trials and did not emerge in trials that used blind assessment of outcomes.CONCLUSION This review presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of art therapies in schizophrenia in terms of both studies included and participant numbers.We found that art therapies did not significantly reduce total or positive symptoms.A"small"therapeutic effect was found for negative symptoms,but we show that the effect is not present in blind trials and may be subject to publication bias.展开更多
Several studies suggest increased prevalence-rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms(OCS) and even of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) in patients with schizophrenic disorders. Moreover, it has been recently proposed...Several studies suggest increased prevalence-rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms(OCS) and even of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) in patients with schizophrenic disorders. Moreover, it has been recently proposed the existence of a distinct diagnostic subgroup of schizo-obsessive disorder. However, the further investigation of the OCS or OCD-schizophrenia diagnostic comorbidity presupposes the accurate clinical differential diagnosis of obsessions and compulsions from delusions and repetitive delusional behaviours, respectively. In turn, this could be facilitated by a careful comparative examination of the phenomenological features of typical obsessions/compulsions and delusions/repetitive delusional behaviours, respectively. Thiswas precisely the primary aim of the present investigation. Our examination included seven features of obsessions/delusions(source of origin and sense of ownership of the thought, conviction, consistency with one's belief-system, awareness of its inaccuracy, awareness of its symptomatic nature, resistance, and emotional impact) and five features of repetitive behaviours(aim of repetitive behaviours, awareness of their inappropriateness, awareness of their symptomatic nature, and their immediate effect on underlying thought, and their emotional impact). Several of these clinical features, if properly and empathically investigated, can help discriminate obsessions and compulsive rituals from delusions and delusional repetitive behaviours, respectively, in patients with schizophrenic disorders. We comment on the results of our examination as well as on those of another recent similar investigation. Moreover, we also address several still controversial issues, such as the nature of insight, the diagnostic status of poor insight in OCD, the conceptualization and differential diagnosis of compulsions from other categories of repetitive behaviours, as well as the diagnostic weight assigned to compulsions in contemporary psychiatric diagnostic systems. We stress the importance of the feature of mental reflexivity for understanding the nature of insight and the ambiguous diagnostic status of poor insight in OCD which may be either a marker of the chronicity of obsessions, or a marker of their delusionality. Furthermore, we criticize two major shortcomings of contemporary psychiatric diagnostic systems(DSM-IV, DSM-V, ICD-10) in their criteria or guidelines for the diagnosis of OCD or OCS: first, the diagnostic parity between obsessions and compulsions and, second, the inadequate conceptualization of compulsions. We argue that these shortcomings might artificially inflate the clinical prevalence of OC symptoms in the course of schizophrenic disorders. Still, contrary to a recent proposal, we do not exclude on purely a priori grounds the possibility of a concurrence of genuine obsessions along with delusions in patients with schizophrenia.展开更多
Background: Prevalence of negative symptoms in the early phase of schizophrenia remains uncertain. Negative symptoms are the primary cause of long term disability and poor functional outcome. The purpose of this study...Background: Prevalence of negative symptoms in the early phase of schizophrenia remains uncertain. Negative symptoms are the primary cause of long term disability and poor functional outcome. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of negative symptoms in patients with fist episode psychosis in schizophrenia who were hospitalized. Methods: Negative symptoms were measured in 72 patients presenting with FEP using the scale for assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and ascertained diagnosis using DSM-IV. Prevalence of SANS items and subscales were examined for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Results: This study shows that a significant number of patients with first episode schizophrenia had negative symptoms 66 (87.5%). All five subtypes of negative symptoms were present in 47% of patients suggesting primary negative symptoms, and about 40% have secondary negative symptoms. Independently, each subtype of negative symptoms was seen in 48% - 76% of patients. The most prevalent negative symptom in first-episode schizophrenia was found to be blunting (72%). 46% of patients had significant level of depression, overall psychopathology was severe and level of functioning was poor. We found that 45.8% patients were prescribed anticholinergic medications which indicated that at least 45% subjects had extra-pyramidal symptoms (EPS). Conclusion: Primary negative symptoms are prevalent in about half of First episode Psychosis (FEP) schizophrenia patients. These findings have implications for identification, early treatment, and reduced treatment resistance for negative symptoms in order to increase social and clinical outcome of schizophrenia. Further research is required in this area.展开更多
Accumulating evidence suggests that a disruption of early brain development,in which insulin-like growth factor-2(IGF-2)has a crucial role,may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.Our previous study has shown...Accumulating evidence suggests that a disruption of early brain development,in which insulin-like growth factor-2(IGF-2)has a crucial role,may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.Our previous study has shown that decreased serum IGF-2 was correlated with the severity of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia.Here we conducted a prospective observation trial to investigate the effects of atypical antipsychotics on serum IGF-2 level and its relationship with clinical improvements in schizophrenia patients.Thirty-one schizophrenia patients with acute exacerbation and 30 healthy individuals were recruited in this study.Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)and serum IGF-2 levels were determined using ELISA.We found that schizophrenia patients with acute exacerbation had lower serum IGF-2 levels than control individuals at baseline(P<0.05).After 2 months of atypical antipsychotic treatment,a significant improvement in each PANSS subscore and total score was observed in patients(all P<0.01),and the serum IGF-2 levels of patients were significantly increased compared with those at baseline(203.13±64.62 vs.426.99±124.26 ng/mL;t=−5.044,P<0.001).Correlation analysis revealed that the changes of serum IGF-2 levels in patients were significantly correlated with the improvements of negative symptoms(r=−0.522,P=0.006).Collectively,our findings demonstrated changes of serum IGF-2 response to improvements of negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients treated with atypical antipsychotics,suggesting that serum IGF-2 might be a treatment biomarker for schizophrenia.展开更多
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia including social withdrawal, diminished affective response, lack of interest, poor social drive, and decreased sense of purpose or goal directed activity predict poor functional outc...Negative symptoms of schizophrenia including social withdrawal, diminished affective response, lack of interest, poor social drive, and decreased sense of purpose or goal directed activity predict poor functional outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. They may develop and be maintained as a result of structural and functional brain abnormalities, particularly associated with dopamine reward pathways and by environmental and psychosocial factors such as self-defeating cognitions and the relief from overstimulation that accompanies withdrawal from social and role functioning. Negative symptoms are more difficult to treat than the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and represent an unmet therapeutic need for large numbers of patients with schizophrenia. While antipsychotic medications to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia have been around for decades, they have done little to address the significant functional impairments in the disorder that are associated with negative symptoms. Negative symptoms and the resulting loss in productivity are responsible for much of the world-wide personal and economic burden of schizophrenia. Pharmacologic treatments may be somewhat successful in treating secondary causes of negative symptoms, such as antipsychotic side effects and depression. However, in the United States there are no currently approved treatments for severe and persistent negative symptoms(PNS) that are not responsive to treatments for secondary causes. Pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatments are currently being developed and tested with severe and PNS as their primary targets. Academia, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry, research funders, payers and regulators will need to work together to pursue novel treatments to address this major public health issue.展开更多
Objective To study the association of DTNBP1 gene with some symptom factors of schizophrenia.Methods A total of 285 unrelated schizophrenic individuals were recruited from December 2004 to January 2009 for genetic ana...Objective To study the association of DTNBP1 gene with some symptom factors of schizophrenia.Methods A total of 285 unrelated schizophrenic individuals were recruited from December 2004 to January 2009 for genetic analysis,and their symptom factors were assessed based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).The quantitative trait test was performed by the UNPHASED program(version 3.0.12) to investigate the association between scored positive and negative symptoms and the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in DTNBP1 gene.Results The quantitative trait test showed allelic association of rs909706 with the excitement symptom of schizophrenia(P<0.05,adjusted by 10 000 permutations),while the genotype C/G of rs2619539 with a negative symptom,lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation(P<0.05,adjusted by 10 000 permutations).Conclusion DTNBP1 variations are possibly associated with some symptoms of schizophrenia,which could partly explain the relationship between the susceptibility gene DTNBP1 and that disease.展开更多
Background Depressive symptoms are often seen in schizophrenia. The overlap in presentation makes it difficult to distinguish depressive symptoms from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The adipokine leptin was f...Background Depressive symptoms are often seen in schizophrenia. The overlap in presentation makes it difficult to distinguish depressive symptoms from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The adipokine leptin was found to be altered in both depression and schizophrenia. There are few studies focusing on the prediction of leptin in diagnosis and evaluation of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.ObjectiveAims To assess the plasma leptin level in patients with schizophrenia and its relationships with depressive symptoms.Methods Cross-sectional studies were applied to(1) compare the levels of plasma leptin between schizophrenia(n=74) and healthy controls(n=50); and(2)investigate the relationship between plasma leptin levels and depressive subscores.Results(1) Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy controls.(2) Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between leptin levels and the depressed factor scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).(3) Stepwise multiple regression analyses identified leptin as an influencing factor for depressed factor score on PANSS.Conclusion Leptin may serve as a predictor for the depressive symptoms of chronic schizophrenia.展开更多
Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the symptoms at onset/past and current symptoms of patients with Very Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis (VLOSLP;first onset of psychotic symptoms at/or after...Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the symptoms at onset/past and current symptoms of patients with Very Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis (VLOSLP;first onset of psychotic symptoms at/or after 60 years old) with those of elderly patients diagnosed with schizophrenia before the age of 40 years old (Early-Onset Schizophrenia—EOS) in order to validate the clinical nosology proposed by the International Late-Onset Schizophrenia Group. Methods: This is a between-patient comparison study with retrospective and current data taken from an historical cohort that was conducted from May/2005 to August/2008. Seventeen VLOSLP and 17 EOS were included. Schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychotic disorders were initially diagnosed by board-certified psychiatrists with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Criteria at use at onset of the disorders. Patients’ symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The general scores on the SAPS/SANS were the primary outcomes. Results: Both groups had hallucinations and delusions at onset of the disease, but the following symptoms were more present and severe in EOS than in VLOSLP: hallucinations (p = 0.001);assiduity loss (p p = 0.001), reference (p p = 0.001) delusions. VLOSLP had mostly persecutory delusions. At current evaluation (follow-up of cohort), most patients in the two groups presented residual symptoms of anhedonia and apathy, but EOS, presented more symptoms of friendship poverty (d = 1.42, large effect size) than VLOSLP. The neuroimaging studies (when available) at follow-up demonstrated greater vascular cerebral lesions/vulnerability in VLOSLP than in EOS patients. Conclusion: This study showed that both VLOSLP and EOS had positive and negative symptoms in the past/at onset of the disease, but they were more severe in EOS than in VLOSLP. However, the positive symptoms of both groups at follow-up of the cohort (current evaluation) responded relatively well to neuroleptics.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of auditory hallucination of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. DATA SOURCES: O...OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of auditory hallucination of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. DATA SOURCES: Online literature retrieval was conducted using PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from January 1985 to May 2012. Key words were "transcranial magnetic stimulation", "TMS", "repetitive tran- scranial magnetic stimulation", and "hallucination". STUDY SELECTION: Selected studies were randomized controlled trials assessing therapeutic ef- ficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for hallucination in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Experimental intervention was low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in left temporoparietal cortex for treatment of auditory hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Control groups received sham stimulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was total scores of Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale, Auditory Hallucination Subscale of Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale-Auditory Hallucination item, and Hallucination Change Scale. Secondary outcomes included response rate, global mental state, adverse effects and cognitive function. RESULTS: Seventeen studies addressing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders were screened, with controls receiving sham stimulation. All data were completely effective, involving 398 patients. Overall mean weighted effect size for repeti- tive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus sham stimulation was statistically significant (MD = -0.42, 95%C/: -0.64 to -0.20, P = 0.000 2). Patients receiving repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation responded more frequently than sham stimulation (OR = 2.94, 95%C/: 1.39 to 6.24, P =0.005). No significant differences were found between active repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and sham stimulation for positive or negative symptoms. Compared with sham stimulation, active repeti- tive transcranial magnetic stimulation had equivocal outcome in cognitive function and commonly caused headache and facial muscle twitching. CONCLUSION: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for auditory hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders,展开更多
We studied a population-based sample of 232 firstonset cases of schizophrenia aged 12 to 59 years at first admission retrospectively back to illness onset and prospectively up to 11.2 years later. We compared them wit...We studied a population-based sample of 232 firstonset cases of schizophrenia aged 12 to 59 years at first admission retrospectively back to illness onset and prospectively up to 11.2 years later. We compared them with psychiatrically healthy age- and sexmatched population controls and equally matched firstadmission patients diagnosed with major depression. At schizophrenia onset women are several years older than men. The social factors tested did not explain the finding. Women's higher level of social development at onset is associated with a better medium-term functional and social outcome. Prodromal schizophrenia and depression are equal in length and diagnostically distinguishable only after the onset of positive symptoms. The sex difference in age at onset, invariable across cultures and ethnicities, is explained by a protective effect of oestrogen, which down-regulates D2 receptors. A higher genetic load antagonizes this effect. Long-term symptom-related illness course exhibits a plateau after three years, the positive symptom dimension after two years, the depressive and the negative dimensions do so after three to five years. The most prevalent symptom is depressive mood. Male first episodes are more frequent and more severe in the first half of life, female ones in the second half. Aetiological conclusions will be drawn.展开更多
Objective: To examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms. Methods: Forty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Ma...Objective: To examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms. Methods: Forty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disor- ders-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Baseline psychiatric symptom severity was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale on the blood draw day. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously. Results: Comparison of the biochemical parameters indicated that the level of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide increased in patient group, which represented a positive correlation with positive scale scores; while the activities of three critical enzymes decreased and showed a negative linear correlation. Conclusion: This study showed that there are dysregulation of free radical metabolism and poor activities of the antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenic patients. Excess free radicals formation may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Using antioxidants might be an effective therapeutic approach to partially alleviate or prevent the symptoms of schizophrenia.展开更多
The transcription factor early growth response protein 3 (EGR3) is involved in schizophrenia. We developed a putative rat model of schizophrenia by transfecting lentiviral particles carrying the Egr3 gene into bilat...The transcription factor early growth response protein 3 (EGR3) is involved in schizophrenia. We developed a putative rat model of schizophrenia by transfecting lentiviral particles carrying the Egr3 gene into bilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus. We assessed spatial working memory using the Morris water maze test, and neuronal metabolite levels in bilateral hippocampus and thalamus were determined by 3.0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Choline content was significantly greater in the hippocampus after transfection, while N-acetylaspartate and the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to creatine/phosphocreatine in the thalamus were lower than in controls. This study is the first to report evaluation of brain metabolites using 3,0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rats transfected with Egr3, and reveals metabolic abnormalities in the hippocampus and thalamus in this putative model of schizophrenia.展开更多
BACKGROUND In patients with schizophrenia,the brain structure and neurotransmitter levels change,which may be related to the occurrence and progression of this disease.AIM To explore the relationships between changes ...BACKGROUND In patients with schizophrenia,the brain structure and neurotransmitter levels change,which may be related to the occurrence and progression of this disease.AIM To explore the relationships between changes in neurotransmitters,brain structural characteristics,and the scores of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.METHODS The case group comprised 97 patients with schizophrenia,who were evaluated using the Canadian Neurological Scale and confirmed by laboratory tests at Ningbo Mental Hospital from January 2020 to July 2022.The control group comprised 100 healthy participants.For all participants,brain structural characteristics were explored by measuring brain dopamine(DA),glutamic acid(Glu),and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)levels,with magnetic resonance imaging.The case group was divided into negative and positive symptom subgroups using PANSS scores for hierarchical analysis.Linear correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between neurotransmitters,brain structural character istics,and PANSS scores.RESULTS Patients in the case group had higher levels of DA and lower levels of Glu and GABA,greater vertical and horizontal distances between the corpus callosum and the inferior part of the fornix and larger ventricle area than patients in the control group(P<0.05).Patients with positive schizophrenia symptoms had significantly higher levels of DA,Glu,and GABA than those with negative symptoms(P<0.05).In patients with positive schizophrenia symptoms,PANSS score was significantly positively correlated with DA,vertical and horizontal distances between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,and ventricular area,and was significantly negatively correlated with Glu and GABA(P<0.05).In patients with negative schizophrenia symptoms,PANSS score was significantly positively correlated with DA,vertical distance between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,horizontal distance between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,and ventricular area,and was significantly negatively correlated with Glu and GABA(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with first-episode schizophrenia,DA levels increased,Glu and GABA levels decreased,the thickness of the corpus callosum increased,and these variables were correlated with PANSS scores.展开更多
Simple schizophrenia has not yet been recognized as a well-established diagnostic category as one of the subtypes of schizophrenia, however, its inclusion to the official diagnostic system is regarded as urgent for ea...Simple schizophrenia has not yet been recognized as a well-established diagnostic category as one of the subtypes of schizophrenia, however, its inclusion to the official diagnostic system is regarded as urgent for early intervention. Here, we report our new observation that body image distortion uniquely found in typical schizophrenia, as reflected in the perception of mass of flesh of living objects in the whole or part of the Rorschach stimuli (Koide et al., 2002), was shown in the patients conforming to the original description of simple schizophrenia, to revisit its relatedness to schizophrenia from a cognitive and perceptual point of view. The Rorschach test was administered to four inpatients of a local mental hospital, showing social and occupational decline, negative symptoms and absence of positive symptoms. The presence or absence of Rorschach flesh mass body image percepts was examined. All of four patients revealed Rorschach mass of flesh responses. The fact that simple schizophrenia exhibited the same body image distortion in the flesh mass passive global perception with typical schizophrenia suggests the adequacy of reconsidering simple schizophrenia as a form of schizophrenia.展开更多
Psychotic syndromes are divided into affective and non-affective forms.Even among the non-affective forms,substantial differences exist.The aim of this relatively brief review is to synthesize what is known about the ...Psychotic syndromes are divided into affective and non-affective forms.Even among the non-affective forms,substantial differences exist.The aim of this relatively brief review is to synthesize what is known about the differences between two non-affective psychoses,schizophrenia and delusional disorder(DD),with respect to clinical,epidemiological,sociodemographic,and treatment response characteristics.A PubMed literature search revealed the following:in schizophrenia,hallucinations,negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms are prominent.They are rare in DD.Compared to schizophrenia patients,individuals with DD maintain relatively good function,and their delusions are believable;many are beliefs that are widely held in the general population.Treatments are generally similar in these two forms of psychosis,with the exception that antidepressants are used more frequently in DD and,for acute treatment,effective antipsychotic doses are lower in DD than in schizophrenia.It is with the hope that the contrasts between these two conditions will aid in the provision of safe and effective treatment for both that this review has been conducted.展开更多
BACKGROUND There are systematic differences in clinical features between women and men with schizophrenia(SCZ).The regulation of sex hormones may play a potential role in abnormal neurodevelopment in SCZ.Brain-derived...BACKGROUND There are systematic differences in clinical features between women and men with schizophrenia(SCZ).The regulation of sex hormones may play a potential role in abnormal neurodevelopment in SCZ.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and sex hormones have complex interacting actions that contribute to the etiology of SCZ.AIM To investigate the influence of BDNF and sex hormones on cognition and clinical symptomatology in chronic antipsychotic-treated male SCZ patients.METHODS The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),progesterone,testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL)and BDNF were compared between chronic antipsychotic-treated male(CATM)patients with SCZ(n=120)and healthy controls(n=120).The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to quantify SCZ symptoms,while neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognition.Neuropsychological tests,such as the Digit Cancellation Test(DCT),Semantic Verbal Fluency(SVF),Spatial Span Test(SS),Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test(PASAT),Trail Making Task(TMT-A),and Block Design Test(BDT),were used to assess executive functions(BDT),attention(DCT,TMT-A),memory(SS,PASAT),and verbal proficiency(SVF).RESULTS Although E2 levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the healthy controls,T,PRL,and LH levels were all significantly higher.Additionally,the analysis revealed that across the entire sample,there were positive correlations between E2 Levels and BDNF levels as well as BDNF levels and the digital cancellation time.In CATM patients with SCZ,a significant correlation between the negative symptoms score and PRL levels was observed.CONCLUSION Sex hormones and BDNF levels may also be linked to cognitive function in patients with chronic SCZ.展开更多
Objective:The efficacy and occurrence of adverse reactions of prescriptions containing phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia were retrospectively studied by mean...Objective:The efficacy and occurrence of adverse reactions of prescriptions containing phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia were retrospectively studied by means of meta-analysis.Methods:A variety of different Chinese and English databases were searched from January 1,2000 to May 1,2020.Review Manager 5.3 software was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies.The positive and negative symptom scale(PANSS)was used as the evaluation standard to analyze the total scores,positive scores,negative scores and general psychopathological scores,clinical efficacy and safety of prescriptions containing phlegmresolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone of schizophrenia.The heterogeneity test and sensitivity analysis were also carried out by Review Manager 5.3,and the potential publication bias was analyzed by"funnel plot".Results:A total of 1515 patients were included in 15 studies.Compared with control group of risperidone alone,the total PANSS scale score,positive symptom score,negative symptom score and general psychopathological score of the treatment group of phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone were all lower than those of the control group(P=0.01,MD=-6.35,95%CI[-11.29,-1.40]),(P=0.04,MD=-1.42,95%CI[-2.74,-0.09]),(P<0.01,MD=-2.16,95%CI[-3.41,-0.91]),and(P<0.01,MD=-3.80,95%CI[-6.37,-1.24]),the clinical efficacy of phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone treatment group on schizophrenia was better than that of the control group[P<0.01,RR=1.09,95%CI(1.05-1.13)].The incidence of adverse reactions was reduced(P=0.02,RR=0.56,95%CI[0.34-0.93]).Conclusion:The combination of prescriptions containing phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine and risperidone can effectively improve the efficacy of patients with schizophrenia and reduce the occurrence of adverse drug reactions compared with risperidone alone.展开更多
Schizophrenia(SCZ)is the most common serious mental illness with a high disability rate and heavy social and family burdens.At present,there is no clear etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia.Studies have shown th...Schizophrenia(SCZ)is the most common serious mental illness with a high disability rate and heavy social and family burdens.At present,there is no clear etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia.Studies have shown that the occurrence of schizophrenia may be related to the abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis.The LIM-homeobox gene 3(LHXS)and early growth response 1(EGR1)can affect pituitary function.Because the synapsin 2(SYN2)gene polymorphism regulates the activity of LHX3 and EGR1,it may cause the occurrence of schizophrenia.This article will review the possible involvement of SYN2 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia via regulating the activity of LHX3 and EGR1,then to afiect the HPA axis.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82371508 and No.81771439Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program,No.BE2020661+6 种基金Suzhou Municipal Health Commission Science Research Program,No.GSWS2020095National Mentorship Training Programme for Young Health Professionals,No.Qngg2022027Suzhou Clinical Key disciplines for Geriatric Psychiatry,No.SZXK202116Suzhou Clinical Medical Center for Mood Disorders,No.Szlcyxzx202109Suzhou Key Technologies Program,No.SKY2021063Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau Program,No.SKJY2021142,No.SKJY2021143,No.SKY2023227,No.SKY2022064 and No.SKYD2023159Suzhou Key Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Program,No.LCZX202218.
文摘BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6(IL-6)contributes to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.However,there was no study concerning the relationship between IL-6 concentrations and clinical features in the chronic phase of early-onset schizophrenia(EOS).AIM To investigate the relationship between serum IL-6 concentration and the clinical features of EOS.METHODS We measured serum IL-6 Levels from 74 patients with chronic schizophrenia,including 33 with age at onset<21 years(EOS group)and 41 with onset≥21 years in[adult-onset schizophrenia(AOS)group],and from 41 healthy controls.Symptom severities were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).RESULTS Serum IL-6 concentrations were higher in both EOS and AOS groups than healthy controls(F=22.32,P<0.01),but did not differ significantly between EOS and AOS groups(P>0.05)after controlling for age,body mass index,and other covariates.Negative symptom scores were higher in the EOS group than the AOS group(F=6.199,P=0.015).Serum IL-6 concentrations in the EOS group were negatively correlated with both total PANSS-negative symptom score(r=-0.389,P=0.032)and avolition/asociality subscore(r=-0.387,P=0.026).CONCLUSION Patients with EOS may have more severe negative symptoms than those with adult-onset schizophrenia during the chronic phase of the illness.IL-6 signaling may regulate negative symptoms and its avolition/asociality subsymptoms among the early-onset chronic schizophrenic patients.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81971250 and No.82171501Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support,No.ZLRK202335Early Psychosis Cohort Program of Beijing Anding Hospital,No.ADDL-03.
文摘BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve(CR)and the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)Val/Met polymorphism are reportedly linked to negative symptoms in schizophrenia.However,the regulatory effect of the COMT genotype on the relationship between CR and negative symptoms is still unexamined.AIM To investigate whether the relationship between CR and negative symptoms could be regulated by the COMT Val/Met polymorphism.METHODS In a cross-sectional study,54 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia underwent assessments for the COMT genotype,CR,and negative symptoms.CR was estimated using scores in the information and similarities subtests of a short form of the Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.RESULTS COMT Met-carriers exhibited fewer negative symptoms than Val homozygotes.In the total sample,significant negative correlations were found between negative symptoms and information,similarities.Associations between information,similarities and negative symptoms were observed in Val homozygotes only,with information and similarities showing interaction effects with the COMT genotype in relation to negative symptoms(information,β=-0.282,95%CI:-0.552 to-0.011,P=0.042;similarities,β=-0.250,95%CI:-0.495 to-0.004,P=0.046).CONCLUSION This study provides initial evidence that the association between negative symptoms and CR is under the regulation of the COMT genotype in schizophrenia.
文摘BACKGROUND Art therapies are advocated by national bodies,such as the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,to alleviate the negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia.The last decade has however,seen several new larger well-controlled trials published suggesting an update is timely.AIM To asses randomised controlled trials(RCT)of art therapies for reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia–particularly negative symptoms.METHODS Searches of PubMed and Scopus were conducted until May 2019 for RCTs examining the impact of art therapies on psychosis(positive,negative and total)symptoms in people diagnosed with schizophrenia.Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Random effects meta-analyses were used to derive overall effect sizes.Moderator analyses were conducted using both metaregression and categorical comparisons.RESULTS We identified 133 articles,of which 9 RCTs involving 948 participants(475 assigned to art therapies and 473 controls)met our inclusion criteria.Using random effects models,we calculated pooled effect sizes(Hedges g)for end-oftrial symptomatic outcomes.Effect sizes both for total symptoms[g=-0.27,95%confidence interval(CI)-0.60 to 0.05,k=6]and for positive symptoms(g=-0.10,95%CI-0.35 to 0.15,k=6)were non-significant;however,we did find significant reduction of negative symptoms(g=-0.42,95%CI-0.70 to-0.14,k=9).Metaregression revealed that negative symptom reduction was larger in trials with a greater proportion of women and in trials with younger patients.Crucially,the negative symptom reduction following art therapies was limited to lower quality trials and did not emerge in trials that used blind assessment of outcomes.CONCLUSION This review presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of art therapies in schizophrenia in terms of both studies included and participant numbers.We found that art therapies did not significantly reduce total or positive symptoms.A"small"therapeutic effect was found for negative symptoms,but we show that the effect is not present in blind trials and may be subject to publication bias.
文摘Several studies suggest increased prevalence-rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms(OCS) and even of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) in patients with schizophrenic disorders. Moreover, it has been recently proposed the existence of a distinct diagnostic subgroup of schizo-obsessive disorder. However, the further investigation of the OCS or OCD-schizophrenia diagnostic comorbidity presupposes the accurate clinical differential diagnosis of obsessions and compulsions from delusions and repetitive delusional behaviours, respectively. In turn, this could be facilitated by a careful comparative examination of the phenomenological features of typical obsessions/compulsions and delusions/repetitive delusional behaviours, respectively. Thiswas precisely the primary aim of the present investigation. Our examination included seven features of obsessions/delusions(source of origin and sense of ownership of the thought, conviction, consistency with one's belief-system, awareness of its inaccuracy, awareness of its symptomatic nature, resistance, and emotional impact) and five features of repetitive behaviours(aim of repetitive behaviours, awareness of their inappropriateness, awareness of their symptomatic nature, and their immediate effect on underlying thought, and their emotional impact). Several of these clinical features, if properly and empathically investigated, can help discriminate obsessions and compulsive rituals from delusions and delusional repetitive behaviours, respectively, in patients with schizophrenic disorders. We comment on the results of our examination as well as on those of another recent similar investigation. Moreover, we also address several still controversial issues, such as the nature of insight, the diagnostic status of poor insight in OCD, the conceptualization and differential diagnosis of compulsions from other categories of repetitive behaviours, as well as the diagnostic weight assigned to compulsions in contemporary psychiatric diagnostic systems. We stress the importance of the feature of mental reflexivity for understanding the nature of insight and the ambiguous diagnostic status of poor insight in OCD which may be either a marker of the chronicity of obsessions, or a marker of their delusionality. Furthermore, we criticize two major shortcomings of contemporary psychiatric diagnostic systems(DSM-IV, DSM-V, ICD-10) in their criteria or guidelines for the diagnosis of OCD or OCS: first, the diagnostic parity between obsessions and compulsions and, second, the inadequate conceptualization of compulsions. We argue that these shortcomings might artificially inflate the clinical prevalence of OC symptoms in the course of schizophrenic disorders. Still, contrary to a recent proposal, we do not exclude on purely a priori grounds the possibility of a concurrence of genuine obsessions along with delusions in patients with schizophrenia.
文摘Background: Prevalence of negative symptoms in the early phase of schizophrenia remains uncertain. Negative symptoms are the primary cause of long term disability and poor functional outcome. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of negative symptoms in patients with fist episode psychosis in schizophrenia who were hospitalized. Methods: Negative symptoms were measured in 72 patients presenting with FEP using the scale for assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and ascertained diagnosis using DSM-IV. Prevalence of SANS items and subscales were examined for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Results: This study shows that a significant number of patients with first episode schizophrenia had negative symptoms 66 (87.5%). All five subtypes of negative symptoms were present in 47% of patients suggesting primary negative symptoms, and about 40% have secondary negative symptoms. Independently, each subtype of negative symptoms was seen in 48% - 76% of patients. The most prevalent negative symptom in first-episode schizophrenia was found to be blunting (72%). 46% of patients had significant level of depression, overall psychopathology was severe and level of functioning was poor. We found that 45.8% patients were prescribed anticholinergic medications which indicated that at least 45% subjects had extra-pyramidal symptoms (EPS). Conclusion: Primary negative symptoms are prevalent in about half of First episode Psychosis (FEP) schizophrenia patients. These findings have implications for identification, early treatment, and reduced treatment resistance for negative symptoms in order to increase social and clinical outcome of schizophrenia. Further research is required in this area.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81760254)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China(No.2019J01164)the Scientific Foundation of Quanzhou City for High Level Talents(No.2019C075R).
文摘Accumulating evidence suggests that a disruption of early brain development,in which insulin-like growth factor-2(IGF-2)has a crucial role,may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.Our previous study has shown that decreased serum IGF-2 was correlated with the severity of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia.Here we conducted a prospective observation trial to investigate the effects of atypical antipsychotics on serum IGF-2 level and its relationship with clinical improvements in schizophrenia patients.Thirty-one schizophrenia patients with acute exacerbation and 30 healthy individuals were recruited in this study.Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)and serum IGF-2 levels were determined using ELISA.We found that schizophrenia patients with acute exacerbation had lower serum IGF-2 levels than control individuals at baseline(P<0.05).After 2 months of atypical antipsychotic treatment,a significant improvement in each PANSS subscore and total score was observed in patients(all P<0.01),and the serum IGF-2 levels of patients were significantly increased compared with those at baseline(203.13±64.62 vs.426.99±124.26 ng/mL;t=−5.044,P<0.001).Correlation analysis revealed that the changes of serum IGF-2 levels in patients were significantly correlated with the improvements of negative symptoms(r=−0.522,P=0.006).Collectively,our findings demonstrated changes of serum IGF-2 response to improvements of negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients treated with atypical antipsychotics,suggesting that serum IGF-2 might be a treatment biomarker for schizophrenia.
文摘Negative symptoms of schizophrenia including social withdrawal, diminished affective response, lack of interest, poor social drive, and decreased sense of purpose or goal directed activity predict poor functional outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. They may develop and be maintained as a result of structural and functional brain abnormalities, particularly associated with dopamine reward pathways and by environmental and psychosocial factors such as self-defeating cognitions and the relief from overstimulation that accompanies withdrawal from social and role functioning. Negative symptoms are more difficult to treat than the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and represent an unmet therapeutic need for large numbers of patients with schizophrenia. While antipsychotic medications to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia have been around for decades, they have done little to address the significant functional impairments in the disorder that are associated with negative symptoms. Negative symptoms and the resulting loss in productivity are responsible for much of the world-wide personal and economic burden of schizophrenia. Pharmacologic treatments may be somewhat successful in treating secondary causes of negative symptoms, such as antipsychotic side effects and depression. However, in the United States there are no currently approved treatments for severe and persistent negative symptoms(PNS) that are not responsive to treatments for secondary causes. Pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatments are currently being developed and tested with severe and PNS as their primary targets. Academia, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry, research funders, payers and regulators will need to work together to pursue novel treatments to address this major public health issue.
基金Supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (2006AA02A407)National Basic Research Program (973 Program) (2010CB529603)Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7102109)
文摘Objective To study the association of DTNBP1 gene with some symptom factors of schizophrenia.Methods A total of 285 unrelated schizophrenic individuals were recruited from December 2004 to January 2009 for genetic analysis,and their symptom factors were assessed based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).The quantitative trait test was performed by the UNPHASED program(version 3.0.12) to investigate the association between scored positive and negative symptoms and the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in DTNBP1 gene.Results The quantitative trait test showed allelic association of rs909706 with the excitement symptom of schizophrenia(P<0.05,adjusted by 10 000 permutations),while the genotype C/G of rs2619539 with a negative symptom,lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation(P<0.05,adjusted by 10 000 permutations).Conclusion DTNBP1 variations are possibly associated with some symptoms of schizophrenia,which could partly explain the relationship between the susceptibility gene DTNBP1 and that disease.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0909200)the National Science Foundation of China(NSFC+4 种基金81171266,81271481,81671336 and 81500976)the China and National Key Research and Development Program(2017YFC0909200)the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders(13dz2260500)the Shanghai Municipal Planning Commission of Science and Research Fund(20154Y0194)the Canadian Institutes of Health Research(project grant PJT-156116)
文摘Background Depressive symptoms are often seen in schizophrenia. The overlap in presentation makes it difficult to distinguish depressive symptoms from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The adipokine leptin was found to be altered in both depression and schizophrenia. There are few studies focusing on the prediction of leptin in diagnosis and evaluation of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.ObjectiveAims To assess the plasma leptin level in patients with schizophrenia and its relationships with depressive symptoms.Methods Cross-sectional studies were applied to(1) compare the levels of plasma leptin between schizophrenia(n=74) and healthy controls(n=50); and(2)investigate the relationship between plasma leptin levels and depressive subscores.Results(1) Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy controls.(2) Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between leptin levels and the depressed factor scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS).(3) Stepwise multiple regression analyses identified leptin as an influencing factor for depressed factor score on PANSS.Conclusion Leptin may serve as a predictor for the depressive symptoms of chronic schizophrenia.
文摘Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the symptoms at onset/past and current symptoms of patients with Very Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis (VLOSLP;first onset of psychotic symptoms at/or after 60 years old) with those of elderly patients diagnosed with schizophrenia before the age of 40 years old (Early-Onset Schizophrenia—EOS) in order to validate the clinical nosology proposed by the International Late-Onset Schizophrenia Group. Methods: This is a between-patient comparison study with retrospective and current data taken from an historical cohort that was conducted from May/2005 to August/2008. Seventeen VLOSLP and 17 EOS were included. Schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychotic disorders were initially diagnosed by board-certified psychiatrists with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Criteria at use at onset of the disorders. Patients’ symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The general scores on the SAPS/SANS were the primary outcomes. Results: Both groups had hallucinations and delusions at onset of the disease, but the following symptoms were more present and severe in EOS than in VLOSLP: hallucinations (p = 0.001);assiduity loss (p p = 0.001), reference (p p = 0.001) delusions. VLOSLP had mostly persecutory delusions. At current evaluation (follow-up of cohort), most patients in the two groups presented residual symptoms of anhedonia and apathy, but EOS, presented more symptoms of friendship poverty (d = 1.42, large effect size) than VLOSLP. The neuroimaging studies (when available) at follow-up demonstrated greater vascular cerebral lesions/vulnerability in VLOSLP than in EOS patients. Conclusion: This study showed that both VLOSLP and EOS had positive and negative symptoms in the past/at onset of the disease, but they were more severe in EOS than in VLOSLP. However, the positive symptoms of both groups at follow-up of the cohort (current evaluation) responded relatively well to neuroleptics.
基金financially sponsored by the Special Funding of Henan Health Science and Technology Innovation Talent Project,No.4173(2010-2015)Xinxiang Medical University of High-Level Personnel of Scientific Research Projects,No.08BSKYQD-004the Key Projects of Science and Technology Research of Department of Education in Henan,No.13A320869
文摘OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of auditory hallucination of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. DATA SOURCES: Online literature retrieval was conducted using PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from January 1985 to May 2012. Key words were "transcranial magnetic stimulation", "TMS", "repetitive tran- scranial magnetic stimulation", and "hallucination". STUDY SELECTION: Selected studies were randomized controlled trials assessing therapeutic ef- ficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for hallucination in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Experimental intervention was low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in left temporoparietal cortex for treatment of auditory hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Control groups received sham stimulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was total scores of Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale, Auditory Hallucination Subscale of Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale-Auditory Hallucination item, and Hallucination Change Scale. Secondary outcomes included response rate, global mental state, adverse effects and cognitive function. RESULTS: Seventeen studies addressing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders were screened, with controls receiving sham stimulation. All data were completely effective, involving 398 patients. Overall mean weighted effect size for repeti- tive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus sham stimulation was statistically significant (MD = -0.42, 95%C/: -0.64 to -0.20, P = 0.000 2). Patients receiving repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation responded more frequently than sham stimulation (OR = 2.94, 95%C/: 1.39 to 6.24, P =0.005). No significant differences were found between active repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and sham stimulation for positive or negative symptoms. Compared with sham stimulation, active repeti- tive transcranial magnetic stimulation had equivocal outcome in cognitive function and commonly caused headache and facial muscle twitching. CONCLUSION: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for auditory hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders,
基金Supported by The German Research Foundation(DFG)as part of the Special Research Branch(Sonderforschungsbereich)258 at the Central Institute of Mental Health from January 1,1987 to December 30,1998 and from January 1,1999 to May 31,2012 as an independent project
文摘We studied a population-based sample of 232 firstonset cases of schizophrenia aged 12 to 59 years at first admission retrospectively back to illness onset and prospectively up to 11.2 years later. We compared them with psychiatrically healthy age- and sexmatched population controls and equally matched firstadmission patients diagnosed with major depression. At schizophrenia onset women are several years older than men. The social factors tested did not explain the finding. Women's higher level of social development at onset is associated with a better medium-term functional and social outcome. Prodromal schizophrenia and depression are equal in length and diagnostically distinguishable only after the onset of positive symptoms. The sex difference in age at onset, invariable across cultures and ethnicities, is explained by a protective effect of oestrogen, which down-regulates D2 receptors. A higher genetic load antagonizes this effect. Long-term symptom-related illness course exhibits a plateau after three years, the positive symptom dimension after two years, the depressive and the negative dimensions do so after three to five years. The most prevalent symptom is depressive mood. Male first episodes are more frequent and more severe in the first half of life, female ones in the second half. Aetiological conclusions will be drawn.
基金Project (No. 19990103) supported by the Educational Committee of Zhejiang Province, China
文摘Objective: To examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms. Methods: Forty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disor- ders-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Baseline psychiatric symptom severity was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale on the blood draw day. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously. Results: Comparison of the biochemical parameters indicated that the level of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide increased in patient group, which represented a positive correlation with positive scale scores; while the activities of three critical enzymes decreased and showed a negative linear correlation. Conclusion: This study showed that there are dysregulation of free radical metabolism and poor activities of the antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenic patients. Excess free radicals formation may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Using antioxidants might be an effective therapeutic approach to partially alleviate or prevent the symptoms of schizophrenia.
文摘The transcription factor early growth response protein 3 (EGR3) is involved in schizophrenia. We developed a putative rat model of schizophrenia by transfecting lentiviral particles carrying the Egr3 gene into bilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus. We assessed spatial working memory using the Morris water maze test, and neuronal metabolite levels in bilateral hippocampus and thalamus were determined by 3.0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Choline content was significantly greater in the hippocampus after transfection, while N-acetylaspartate and the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to creatine/phosphocreatine in the thalamus were lower than in controls. This study is the first to report evaluation of brain metabolites using 3,0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rats transfected with Egr3, and reveals metabolic abnormalities in the hippocampus and thalamus in this putative model of schizophrenia.
文摘BACKGROUND In patients with schizophrenia,the brain structure and neurotransmitter levels change,which may be related to the occurrence and progression of this disease.AIM To explore the relationships between changes in neurotransmitters,brain structural characteristics,and the scores of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.METHODS The case group comprised 97 patients with schizophrenia,who were evaluated using the Canadian Neurological Scale and confirmed by laboratory tests at Ningbo Mental Hospital from January 2020 to July 2022.The control group comprised 100 healthy participants.For all participants,brain structural characteristics were explored by measuring brain dopamine(DA),glutamic acid(Glu),and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)levels,with magnetic resonance imaging.The case group was divided into negative and positive symptom subgroups using PANSS scores for hierarchical analysis.Linear correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between neurotransmitters,brain structural character istics,and PANSS scores.RESULTS Patients in the case group had higher levels of DA and lower levels of Glu and GABA,greater vertical and horizontal distances between the corpus callosum and the inferior part of the fornix and larger ventricle area than patients in the control group(P<0.05).Patients with positive schizophrenia symptoms had significantly higher levels of DA,Glu,and GABA than those with negative symptoms(P<0.05).In patients with positive schizophrenia symptoms,PANSS score was significantly positively correlated with DA,vertical and horizontal distances between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,and ventricular area,and was significantly negatively correlated with Glu and GABA(P<0.05).In patients with negative schizophrenia symptoms,PANSS score was significantly positively correlated with DA,vertical distance between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,horizontal distance between the corpus callosum and the infrafornix,and ventricular area,and was significantly negatively correlated with Glu and GABA(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with first-episode schizophrenia,DA levels increased,Glu and GABA levels decreased,the thickness of the corpus callosum increased,and these variables were correlated with PANSS scores.
文摘Simple schizophrenia has not yet been recognized as a well-established diagnostic category as one of the subtypes of schizophrenia, however, its inclusion to the official diagnostic system is regarded as urgent for early intervention. Here, we report our new observation that body image distortion uniquely found in typical schizophrenia, as reflected in the perception of mass of flesh of living objects in the whole or part of the Rorschach stimuli (Koide et al., 2002), was shown in the patients conforming to the original description of simple schizophrenia, to revisit its relatedness to schizophrenia from a cognitive and perceptual point of view. The Rorschach test was administered to four inpatients of a local mental hospital, showing social and occupational decline, negative symptoms and absence of positive symptoms. The presence or absence of Rorschach flesh mass body image percepts was examined. All of four patients revealed Rorschach mass of flesh responses. The fact that simple schizophrenia exhibited the same body image distortion in the flesh mass passive global perception with typical schizophrenia suggests the adequacy of reconsidering simple schizophrenia as a form of schizophrenia.
文摘Psychotic syndromes are divided into affective and non-affective forms.Even among the non-affective forms,substantial differences exist.The aim of this relatively brief review is to synthesize what is known about the differences between two non-affective psychoses,schizophrenia and delusional disorder(DD),with respect to clinical,epidemiological,sociodemographic,and treatment response characteristics.A PubMed literature search revealed the following:in schizophrenia,hallucinations,negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms are prominent.They are rare in DD.Compared to schizophrenia patients,individuals with DD maintain relatively good function,and their delusions are believable;many are beliefs that are widely held in the general population.Treatments are generally similar in these two forms of psychosis,with the exception that antidepressants are used more frequently in DD and,for acute treatment,effective antipsychotic doses are lower in DD than in schizophrenia.It is with the hope that the contrasts between these two conditions will aid in the provision of safe and effective treatment for both that this review has been conducted.
基金Supported by This study was supported by the Suzhou Municipal Sci-Tech Bureau Program,No.SS202070Scientific and Technological Program of Suzhou,No.SS202069+5 种基金Suzhou clinical Medical Center for mood disorders,No.Szlcyxzx202109Suzhou Clinical Key Disciplines for Geriatric Psychiatry,No.SZXK202116Suzhou Key Technologies Program,No.SKY2021063Jiangsu Province social development project,No.BE2020764Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health,No.M2020031Elderly Health Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health,No.LR2022015 and No.LKZ2023020.
文摘BACKGROUND There are systematic differences in clinical features between women and men with schizophrenia(SCZ).The regulation of sex hormones may play a potential role in abnormal neurodevelopment in SCZ.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and sex hormones have complex interacting actions that contribute to the etiology of SCZ.AIM To investigate the influence of BDNF and sex hormones on cognition and clinical symptomatology in chronic antipsychotic-treated male SCZ patients.METHODS The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),progesterone,testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL)and BDNF were compared between chronic antipsychotic-treated male(CATM)patients with SCZ(n=120)and healthy controls(n=120).The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to quantify SCZ symptoms,while neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognition.Neuropsychological tests,such as the Digit Cancellation Test(DCT),Semantic Verbal Fluency(SVF),Spatial Span Test(SS),Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test(PASAT),Trail Making Task(TMT-A),and Block Design Test(BDT),were used to assess executive functions(BDT),attention(DCT,TMT-A),memory(SS,PASAT),and verbal proficiency(SVF).RESULTS Although E2 levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the healthy controls,T,PRL,and LH levels were all significantly higher.Additionally,the analysis revealed that across the entire sample,there were positive correlations between E2 Levels and BDNF levels as well as BDNF levels and the digital cancellation time.In CATM patients with SCZ,a significant correlation between the negative symptoms score and PRL levels was observed.CONCLUSION Sex hormones and BDNF levels may also be linked to cognitive function in patients with chronic SCZ.
基金National Natural Scicnce Foundation of China(No.81973747,81873299)。
文摘Objective:The efficacy and occurrence of adverse reactions of prescriptions containing phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia were retrospectively studied by means of meta-analysis.Methods:A variety of different Chinese and English databases were searched from January 1,2000 to May 1,2020.Review Manager 5.3 software was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies.The positive and negative symptom scale(PANSS)was used as the evaluation standard to analyze the total scores,positive scores,negative scores and general psychopathological scores,clinical efficacy and safety of prescriptions containing phlegmresolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone of schizophrenia.The heterogeneity test and sensitivity analysis were also carried out by Review Manager 5.3,and the potential publication bias was analyzed by"funnel plot".Results:A total of 1515 patients were included in 15 studies.Compared with control group of risperidone alone,the total PANSS scale score,positive symptom score,negative symptom score and general psychopathological score of the treatment group of phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone were all lower than those of the control group(P=0.01,MD=-6.35,95%CI[-11.29,-1.40]),(P=0.04,MD=-1.42,95%CI[-2.74,-0.09]),(P<0.01,MD=-2.16,95%CI[-3.41,-0.91]),and(P<0.01,MD=-3.80,95%CI[-6.37,-1.24]),the clinical efficacy of phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine combined with risperidone treatment group on schizophrenia was better than that of the control group[P<0.01,RR=1.09,95%CI(1.05-1.13)].The incidence of adverse reactions was reduced(P=0.02,RR=0.56,95%CI[0.34-0.93]).Conclusion:The combination of prescriptions containing phlegm-resolving Chinese medicine and risperidone can effectively improve the efficacy of patients with schizophrenia and reduce the occurrence of adverse drug reactions compared with risperidone alone.
基金Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Project(202101AY070001-224).
文摘Schizophrenia(SCZ)is the most common serious mental illness with a high disability rate and heavy social and family burdens.At present,there is no clear etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia.Studies have shown that the occurrence of schizophrenia may be related to the abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis.The LIM-homeobox gene 3(LHXS)and early growth response 1(EGR1)can affect pituitary function.Because the synapsin 2(SYN2)gene polymorphism regulates the activity of LHX3 and EGR1,it may cause the occurrence of schizophrenia.This article will review the possible involvement of SYN2 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia via regulating the activity of LHX3 and EGR1,then to afiect the HPA axis.