Changes in neurotransmitter levels,brain structural characteristics,and their correlation with PANSS scores in patients with firstepisode schizophrenia

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.

Study on drug retention of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

This study retrospectively analyzed the medication prescriptions of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) in Ningbo Psychiatric Hospital and Ningbo Women and Children’s Hospital from March 2018 to September 2020 and compared the drug retention rate of methylphenidate hydrochloride and atomoxetine hydrochloride. The prescription automatic screening system was used to screen the prescriptions in children with ADHD. Kaplan-Meier regression analysis was used to compare prescription retention rates between the two regimens after adjusting for gender, age, body weight, and prescription cost. The mean age of the methylphenidate hydrochloride group was 8.75 ± 2.16 years, and the monthly prescription cost was 327.37 ± 146.64 RMB. The average age of the atomoxetine group was 8.33 ± 1.73 years, and the monthly prescription cost was 363.15 ± 154.90 ￥. There were some differences in the age of enrollment and the monthly prescription cost between the two regimens(all P < 0.01). Moreover, the retention rate of methylphenidate hydrochloride was higher compared with atomoxetine hydrochloride within 18 months. Kaplan-Meier regression analysis showed that this trend was significant(Tarone-ware, Chi-square value = 14.893, P < 0.001). Prescription costs might be a factor affecting drug retention. This study found that the retention rates were decreased month by month in children with ADHD, and after 5 months, the retention rates were 52.20% and 41.22%, respectively, far below the recommended levels of the guidelines.