Comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders in 509 individuals with an at-risk mental state: impact on psychopathology and transition to psychosis

Annual Research Review: Prevention of psychosis in adolescents - systematic review and meta-analysis of advances in detection, prognosis and intervention

BACKGROUND

The clinical high-risk state for psychosis (CHR-P) paradigm has facilitated the implementation of psychosis prevention into clinical practice; however, advancements in adolescent CHR-P populations are less established.

METHODS

We performed a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review of the Web of Science database, from inception until 7 October 2019, to identify original studies conducted in CHR-P children and adolescents (mean age <18 years). Findings were systematically appraised around core themes: detection, prognosis and intervention. We performed meta-analyses (employing Q statistics and I ² test) regarding the proportion of CHR-P subgroups, the prevalence of baseline comorbid mental disorders, the risk of psychosis onset and the type of interventions received at baseline. Quality assessment and publication bias were also analysed.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven articles were included (n = 4,667 CHR-P individuals). Quality of studies ranged from 3.5 to 8 (median 5.5) on a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Detection: Individuals were aged 15.6 ± 1.2 years (51.5% males), mostly (83%) presenting with attenuated positive psychotic symptoms. CHR-P psychometric accuracy improved when caregivers served as additional informants. Comorbid mood (46.4%) and anxiety (31.4%) disorders were highly prevalent. Functioning and cognition were impaired. Neurobiological studies were inconclusive.

PROGNOSIS

Risk for psychosis was 10.4% (95%CI: 5.8%-18.1%) at 6 months, 20% (95%CI: 15%-26%) at 12 months, 23% (95%CI: 18%-29%) at 24 months and 23.3% (95%CI: 17.3%-30.7%) at ≥36 months.

INTERVENTIONS

There was not enough evidence to recommend one specific treatment (including cognitive behavioural therapy) over the others (including control conditions) to prevent the transition to psychosis in this population. Randomised controlled trials suggested that family interventions, cognitive remediation and fish oil supplementation may improve cognition, symptoms and functioning. At baseline, 30% of CHR-P adolescents were prescribed antipsychotics and 60% received psychotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to detect and formulate a group-level prognosis in adolescents at risk for psychosis. Future interventional research is required.

Breaking the web: life beyond the at-risk mental state for psychosis

Psychiatry's most recent foray into the area of risk and prevention has been spear-headed by work on at-risk mental states for psychotic disorders. Twenty-five years' research and clinical application have led us to reformulate the clinical evolution of these syndromes, blurred unhelpful conceptual boundaries between childhood and adult life by adopting a developmental view and has changed the shape of many mental health services as part of a global movement to increase quality. But there are problems: fragmentary psychotic experiences are common in young people but transition from risk-state to full syndrome is uncommon away from specialist clinics with rarefied referrals and can, anyway, be subtle; diagnostic over-shadowing by the prospect of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders may divert clinical attention from the kaleidoscopic and disabling range of probably treatable psychopathology with which people with risk syndromes present. We use a 19th Century lyric poem, The Lady of Shallot, as an allegory for Psychiatry warning us against regarding these mental states only as pointers towards diagnoses that probably will not occur. Viewed from the fresh perspective of common mental disorders they tell us a great deal about the psychopathological crucible of the second and third decades, the nature of diagnosis, and point towards new treatment paradigms.

Are negative beliefs about psychosis associated with emotional distress in adults and young people with such experiences? A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Emotional distress, including depression and anxiety, is commonly reported amongst individuals experiencing psychosis. The beliefs individuals hold about the meaning of their psychosis may explain the distress they experience. The current meta-analysis aimed to review the association between beliefs about psychosis experiences and emotional distress.

METHOD

Three electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were searched using keywords and controlled vocabulary (e.g., Medical Subject Headings) from date of inception to August 2019. A total of 19 eligible papers were identified.

RESULTS

Our random-effects meta-analysis revealed that depression and anxiety held moderate association with psychosis beliefs, with perceptions concerning a lack of control over experiences having the strongest association with distress. Longitudinal studies suggest that negative beliefs at baseline are associated with depressive symptoms at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the endorsement of negative beliefs about psychosis is associated with current level of depression and anxiety. The results are consistent with theories of emotional distress in psychosis. However, the small number of longitudinal papers limits what can be concluded about the direction or other temporal characteristics of these relationships. Therapies that target unhelpful beliefs about psychosis may beneficial.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Negative beliefs about experiences of psychosis are associated with greater emotional distress such as depression and anxiety. Beliefs about a lack of control over experiences had the strongest association with distress. Interventions that aim to modify or prevent the formation of unhelpful beliefs about psychosis may be beneficial for this population.

Neural correlates of emotional processing in psychosis risk and onset - A systematic review and meta-analysis of fMRI studies

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The neural bases of altered emotion processing in psychosis are still unclear.

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Systematic review indicated widespread activation decreases to emotion in first-episode psychosis.

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Evidence in people at clinical high-risk for psychosis lacked convergence.

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These findings were corroborated by image-based meta-analyses.

Aberrant emotion processing is a well-established component of psychotic disorders and is already present at the first episode of psychosis (FEP). However, the role of emotion processing abnormalities in the emergence of psychosis and the underlying neurobiology remain unclear. Here, we systematically reviewed functional magnetic resonance studies that used emotion processing task paradigms in FEP patients, and in people at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHRp). Image-based meta-analyses with Seed-based d Mapping on available studies (n = 6) were also performed. Compared to controls, FEP patients showed decreased neural responses to emotion, particularly in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex. There were no significant differences between CHRp subjects and controls, but a high degree of heterogeneity was identified across studies. The role of altered emotion processing in the early phase of psychosis may be clarified through more homogenous experimental designs, particularly in the CHRp population.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Other Symptoms of the At-risk Mental State for Psychosis: A Network Perspective

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) among subjects at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) for psychosis is well documented. However, the network structure spanning the relations between OCS and symptoms of the at risk mental state for psychosis as assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS) has not yet been investigated. This article aimed to use a network approach to investigate the associations between OCS and CAARMS symptoms in a large sample of individuals with different levels of risk for psychosis.

METHOD

Three hundred and forty-one UHR and 66 healthy participants were included, who participated in the EU-GEI study. Data analysis consisted of constructing a network of CAARMS symptoms, investigating central items in the network, and identifying the shortest pathways between OCS and positive symptoms.

RESULTS

Strong associations between OCS and anxiety, social isolation and blunted affect were identified. Depression was the most central symptom in terms of the number of connections, and anxiety was a key item in bridging OCS to other symptoms. Shortest paths between OCS and positive symptoms revealed that unusual thought content and perceptual abnormalities were connected mainly via anxiety, while disorganized speech was connected via blunted affect and cognitive change.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide valuable insight into the central role of depression and the potential connective component of anxiety between OCS and other symptoms of the network. Interventions specifically aimed to reduce affective symptoms might be crucial for the development and prospective course of symptom co-occurrence.

Mental Health Services Research Targeting the Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: Lessons, Future Directions and Integration with Patient Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We summarize the history of the clinical high-risk stage of psychosis (CHR), current research on this stage and recent critiques of the field, and evaluate current CHR guidelines and frameworks.

RECENT FINDINGS

Following its identification and characterization, CHR services have successfully been developed in North America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. As reflected in guidelines, these services and their orientation largely emerged as an outgrowth of the framework pioneered by early intervention services for first-episode psychosis. We critically discuss what is known so far about the subjective experience of the CHR syndrome, the meaning of this "unofficial" diagnosis as well as what is known and unknown about the service-related needs. While a range of outstanding questions remain in the field, there is a particular need for patient-oriented work and to investigate the service-related needs of young people at CHR.

Combined individual and family therapy in comparison to treatment as usual for people at-risk of psychosis: A feasibility study (IF CBT): Trial rationale, methodology and baseline characteristics

AIMS

Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for psychosis recommend psychological therapy with or without family intervention for individuals at-risk of developing psychosis. NICE guidelines have a specific research recommendation to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of combined individual and family intervention. We report the rationale, design and baseline characteristics of a feasibility study which aimed to investigate combined Individual and Family Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IFCBT) for those at-risk of developing psychosis.

METHODS

The IFCBT study was a single blind, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare a combined individual and family Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention to treatment as usual. Participants were assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of the At-risk Mental State (CAARMS) and randomly allocated to either therapy or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). All participants were followed up at 6 and 12 months. Primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment and retention of participants. Secondary outcomes included transition to psychosis and assessment of mood, anxiety and the relationship of the individual and nominated family member.

RESULTS

We report data showing entry into the study from initial enquiry to randomization. We report the characteristics of the recruited sample of individuals (n = 70) and family members (n = 70) at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

The study recruited to 92% of target demonstrating it is feasible to identify and recruit participants. Our study aimed to add to the current evidence base regarding the utility of family interventions for people at-risk of psychosis.

Multimodal Machine Learning Workflows for Prediction of Psychosis in Patients With Clinical High-Risk Syndromes and Recent-Onset Depression

IMPORTANCE

Diverse models have been developed to predict psychosis in patients with clinical high-risk (CHR) states. Whether prediction can be improved by efficiently combining clinical and biological models and by broadening the risk spectrum to young patients with depressive syndromes remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether psychosis transition can be predicted in patients with CHR or recent-onset depression (ROD) using multimodal machine learning that optimally integrates clinical and neurocognitive data, structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia; to assess models' geographic generalizability; to test and integrate clinicians' predictions; and to maximize clinical utility by building a sequential prognostic system.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This multisite, longitudinal prognostic study performed in 7 academic early recognition services in 5 European countries followed up patients with CHR syndromes or ROD and healthy volunteers. The referred sample of 167 patients with CHR syndromes and 167 with ROD was recruited from February 1, 2014, to May 31, 2017, of whom 26 (23 with CHR syndromes and 3 with ROD) developed psychosis. Patients with 18-month follow-up (n = 246) were used for model training and leave-one-site-out cross-validation. The remaining 88 patients with nontransition served as the validation of model specificity. Three hundred thirty-four healthy volunteers provided a normative sample for prognostic signature evaluation. Three independent Swiss projects contributed a further 45 cases with psychosis transition and 600 with nontransition for the external validation of clinical-neurocognitive, sMRI-based, and combined models. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Accuracy and generalizability of prognostic systems.

RESULTS

A total of 668 individuals (334 patients and 334 controls) were included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 25.1 [5.8] years; 354 [53.0%] female and 314 [47.0%] male). Clinicians attained a balanced accuracy of 73.2% by effectively ruling out (specificity, 84.9%) but ineffectively ruling in (sensitivity, 61.5%) psychosis transition. In contrast, algorithms showed high sensitivity (76.0%-88.0%) but low specificity (53.5%-66.8%). A cybernetic risk calculator combining all algorithmic and human components predicted psychosis with a balanced accuracy of 85.5% (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 86.4%). In comparison, an optimal prognostic workflow produced a balanced accuracy of 85.9% (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 87.3%) at a much lower diagnostic burden by sequentially integrating clinical-neurocognitive, expert-based, PRS-based, and sMRI-based risk estimates as needed for the given patient. Findings were supported by good external validation results.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that psychosis transition can be predicted in a broader risk spectrum by sequentially integrating algorithms' and clinicians' risk estimates. For clinical translation, the proposed workflow should undergo large-scale international validation.

The case for improved transdiagnostic detection of first-episode psychosis: Electronic health record cohort study

BACKGROUND

Improving outcomes of a First Episode of Psychosis (FEP) relies on the ability to detect most individuals with emerging psychosis and treat them in specialised Early Intervention (EI) services. Efficacy of current detection strategies is undetermined.

METHODS

RECORD-compliant clinical, 6-year, retrospective, transdiagnostic, lifespan-inclusive, Electronic Health Record (EHR) cohort study, representing real-world secondary mental healthcare in South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS. All individuals accessing SLaM in the period 2007-2017 and receiving any ICD-10 diagnosis other than persistent psychosis were included. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier curves, logistic regression, epidemiological incidence of psychosis in the general population were used to address pathways to care and detection power of EI services for FEP.

RESULTS

A total of 106,706 individuals underwent the 6-year follow-up: they were mostly single (72.57%) males (50.51%) of white ethnicity (60.01%), aged on average 32.96 years, with an average Health Of the Nation Outcome Scale score of 11.12 and mostly affected with F40-48 Neurotic/stress-related/somatoform disorders (27.46%). Their transdiagnostic risk of developing a FEP cumulated to 0.072 (95%CI 0.067-0.077) at 6 years. Those individuals who developed a FEP (n = 1841) entered healthcare mostly (79.02%) through inpatient mental health services (29.76%), community mental health services (29.54%) or accident and emergency departments (19.50%); at the time of FEP onset, most of them (46.43%) were under the acute care pathway. Individuals contacting accident and emergency departments had an increased risk of FEP (OR 2.301, 95%CI 2.095-2.534, P < 0.001). The proportion of SLaM FEP cases that were eligible and under the care of EI services was 0.456 at any time. The epidemiological proportion of FEP cases in the sociodemographically-matched general population that was detected by EI service was 0.373.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of individuals who develop a FEP remain undetected by current pathways to care and EI services. Improving detection strategies should become a mainstream area in the future generation of early psychosis research.

Psychotic Like Experiences are Associated with Suicide Ideation and Behavior in 9 to 10 Year Old Children in the United States

Those experiencing psychotic like experiences (PLEs) are at higher risk for suicide ideation and behavior. However, it is unclear if PLEs are related to suicide ideation and behavior in children, and whether other factors such as impulsivity or emotion dysregulation might moderate the relationship. We hypothesize that PLEs are associated with suicide ideation and behavior, with impulsivity and emotion dysregulation moderating this relationship, in middle childhood. History of PLEs, suicide ideation and behavior, depression, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity were assessed for 10,624 children aged 9 to 10.9 years (47.8% female, 34.4% minority race, 20.0% Hispanic) as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ study. Hypotheses about associations between variables were assessed using hierarchical linear modeling. PLEs were associated with suicide ideation and suicide behavior even when controlling for depression severity. Emotion dysregulation and impulsivity were also associated with suicide ideation and moderated the relationship between PLEs and suicide ideation. Variation in suicide ideation due to impulsivity and emotion dysregulation appears to be strongest when people are experiencing low levels to no PLEs. Only impulsivity and PLEs were associated with suicide behavior. Depression was associated with suicide ideation, but not suicide behavior. PLEs may be an important risk factor for suicide ideation and behavior in 9 to 10-year-old children, comparable to adult and adolescent populations. When considering prevention of suicidality, these data suggest that considering the relations between PLEs, impulsivity and emotion dysregulation may be important.

Establishing a clinical service to prevent psychosis: What, how and when? Systematic review

The first rate-limiting step to successfully translate prevention of psychosis in to clinical practice is to establish specialised Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) services. This study systematises the knowledge regarding CHR-P services and provides guidelines for translational implementation. We conducted a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant (PROSPERO-CRD42020163640) systematic review of Web of Science to identify studies until 4/05/2020 reporting on CHR-P service configuration, outreach strategy and referrals, service user characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Fifty-six studies (1998-2020) were included, encompassing 51 distinct CHR-P services across 15 countries and a catchment area of 17,252,666 people. Most services (80.4%) consisted of integrated multidisciplinary teams taking care of CHR-P and other patients. Outreach encompassed active (up to 97.6%) or passive (up to 63.4%) approaches: referrals came mostly (90%) from healthcare agencies. CHR-P individuals were more frequently males (57.2%). Most (70.6%) services accepted individuals aged 12-35 years, typically assessed with the CAARMS/SIPS (83.7%). Baseline comorbid mental conditions were reported in two-third (69.5%) of cases, and unemployment in one third (36.6%). Most services provided up to 2-years (72.4%), of clinical monitoring (100%), psychoeducation (81.1%), psychosocial support (73%), family interventions (73%), individual (67.6%) and group (18.9%) psychotherapy, physical health interventions (37.8%), antipsychotics (87.1%), antidepressants (74.2%), anxiolytics (51.6%), and mood stabilisers (38.7%). Outcomes were more frequently ascertained clinically (93.0%) and included: persistence of symptoms/comorbidities (67.4%), transition to psychosis (53.5%), and functional status (48.8%). We provide ten practical recommendations for implementation of CHR-P services. Health service knowledge summarised by the current study will facilitate translational efforts for implementation of CHR-P services worldwide.

Timing, Distribution, and Relationship Between Nonpsychotic and Subthreshold Psychotic Symptoms Prior to Emergence of a First Episode of Psychosis

Prospective population studies suggest that psychotic syndromes may be an emergent phenomenon-a function of severity and complexity of more common mental health presentations and their nonpsychotic symptoms. Examining the relationship between nonpsychotic and subthreshold psychotic symptoms in individuals who later developed the ultimate outcome of interest, a first episode of psychosis (FEP), could provide valuable data to support or refute this conceptualization of how psychosis develops. We therefore conducted a detailed follow-back study consisting of semistructured interviews with 430 patients and families supplemented by chart reviews in a catchment-based sample of affective and nonaffective FEP. The onset and sequence of 27 pre-onset nonpsychotic (NPS) or subthreshold psychotic (STPS) symptoms was systematically characterized. Differences in proportions were analyzed with z-tests, and correlations were assessed with negative binomial regressions. Both the first psychiatric symptom (86.24% NPS) and the first prodromal symptom (66.51% NPS) were more likely to be NPS than STPS. Patients reporting pre-onset STPS had proportionally more of each NPS than did those without pre-onset STPS. Finally, there was a strong positive correlation between NPS counts (reflecting complexity) and STPS counts (β = 0.34, 95% CI [0.31, 0.38], P < 2 e-16). Prior to a FEP, NPS precede STPS, and greater complexity of NPS is associated with the presence and frequency of STPS. These findings complement recent arguments that the emergence of psychotic illness is better conceptualized as part of a continuum-with implications for understanding pluripotential developmental trajectories and strengthening early intervention paradigms.

Depression: An actionable outcome for those at clinical high-risk

Comorbid diagnoses are common in youth who are at clinical high-risk (CHR) for developing psychosis, with depression being the most common. The aim of this paper is to examine depression over two years in a large sample of CHR youth who do not make the transition to psychosis, considering both categorical and dimensional ratings of depression severity. The sample consisted of 267 CHR youth who were followed for two years. Based on DSM-IV diagnoses over this time period, 100 CHR individuals never received a diagnosis of depression, 64 individuals continuously met criteria for depression, 92 individuals received a diagnosis of depression at one or more timepoints, and 11 participants had a diagnosis of depression only at 24-months. These groupings were supported by six-monthly ratings on the Calgary Depression Scale. The majority of this sample experienced a major depressive episode on more than one occasion, suggesting that depression and depressive symptoms identify a domain of substantial unmet clinical need. Recommendations are that depression in CHR youth and young adults should be monitored more frequently and that there is a need for clinical trials to address depression systematically in this vulnerable population.

The Importance of Suicide Risk Formulation in Schizophrenia

Suicide is a cause of early mortality in nearly 5% of patients with schizophrenia, and 25-50% of patients with schizophrenia attempt suicide in their lifetime. Evidence points to numerous individual, clinical, social, and psychological risk factors for suicide in patients with schizophrenia. Although recognizing suicidal risk factors in schizophrenia is extremely important in suicidal risk assessment, we have recently witnessed a change in suicide risk management that shifts the focus from suicide risk assessment to suicide risk formulation. Suicide risk formulation is dependent on the data gathered in the suicide risk assessment and assigns a level of suicide risk that is indispensable for the choice of treatment and the management of patients with a high suicidal risk. In this article, we extend the suicide risk formulation model to patients with schizophrenia. Suicide risk formulation results from four different areas that help clinicians collect as much information as possible for the management of suicidal risk. The four distinct judgments comprise risk status (the risk relating to the specific group to which the patient belongs), risk state (the risk for the person compared with his baseline or another reference point in the course of his life), available resources (on whom the person can count during a crisis) and foreseeable events (which can exacerbate the crisis). In schizophrenia, the suicide risk formulation model allows the clinician to evaluate in depth the clinical context of the patient, the patient's own history and patient-specific opportunities for better choosing and applying suicide prevention strategies.

Prevalence and Functional Consequences of Social Anxiety in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis: Perspective From a Community Sample Comparison

BACKGROUND

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) commonly occurs among individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis. Extant research has yet to examine the prevalence and clinical/functional correlates of SAD in this population compared to a community control (CC) sample. This comparison may improve the generalizability that traditional nonpsychiatric control samples cannot provide. Additionally, it remains unknown how SAD contributes to symptom severity and social impairments in individuals at CHR for psychosis.

METHODS

Both CHR and CC groups were recruited from general community sources; CC participants were not excluded in this analysis on the basis of any psychopathology except psychosis. A total of 245 adolescents and young adults (CHR = 81; CC = 164) were administered the Social Phobia Scale, the Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Research Version, and the Social Functioning Scale.

RESULTS

The CHR group was at increased risk for having SAD relative to CC (42% CHR; 13% CC; RR = 3.28) and, to a lesser degree, a non-SAD anxiety disorder (41% CHR; 29% CC; RR = 1.42). Greater social anxiety was related to higher levels of negative (r = 0.29) but not positive (r = 0.05) symptoms within the CHR group. Furthermore, elevated social anxiety was found to be linked with poor social functioning in the CHR group (r = -0.31).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate the specificity of SAD over and above other anxiety disorders in individuals at CHR for psychosis and the critical target of SAD to treat subclinical psychotic symptoms and social functioning.

Reduced cortical GABA and glutamate in high schizotypy

RATIONALE

Abnormal functioning of the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excitatory (glutamate) systems is proposed to play a role in the development of schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Although results are mixed, previous 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies in schizophrenia and clinical high-risk samples report these metabolites are altered in comparison to healthy controls. Currently, however, there are few studies of these metabolites in schizotypy samples, a personality dimension associated with the experience of schizophrenia and psychosis-like symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated if GABA and glutamate metabolite concentrations are altered in people with high schizotypy. We also explored the relationship between resilience to stress, GABA metabolite concentrations and schizotypy.

METHODS

We used MRS to examine GABA and glutamate levels in the medial prefrontal cortex in people with low and high schizotypy traits as assessed with the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Resilience to stress was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.

RESULTS

Compared to individuals with low schizotypy traits, high schizotypy individuals showed lower cortical prefrontal GABA (F (1,38) = 5.18, p = 0.03, η² = 0.09) and glutamate metabolite levels (F (1, 49) = 6.25, p = 0.02, η² = 0.02). Furthermore, participants with high GABA and high resilience levels were significantly more likely to be in the low schizotypy group than participants with low GABA and high resilience or high GABA and low resilience (95% CI 1.07-1.34, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that subclinical schizotypal traits are associated with abnormal functioning of both inhibitory and excitatory systems and suggest that these transmitters are implicated in a personality trait believed to be on a continuum with psychosis.

Identifying patients at risk of psychosis: a qualitative study of GP views in South West England

Background

Early intervention in people with an at-risk mental state for psychosis can decrease the rates of transition to psychosis. GPs play a key role in the identification of this patient group but very few studies have explored GPs’ awareness of patients who are at risk of psychosis.

Aim

To explore GPs’ views and experiences of identifying patients with an at-risk mental state for psychosis, and the barriers and facilitators to identification.

Design and setting

In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with GPs working in South West England primary care. The interviews were conducted between March and July 2019.

Method

A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. This guide was revised to incorporate a definition of the at-risk mental state for psychosis, as after conducting a few interviews it became clear that some GPs were not familiar with this construct. Interviews were audiorecorded and analysed thematically.

Results

A total of 20 GPs were interviewed. Some GPs were not familiar with the concept of being at risk of developing psychosis, and perceived that they may not have the right skills to identify this patient group. Other barriers related to patients not presenting or disclosing psychotic symptoms, and limitations imposed by scarce resources on the structure and provision of NHS services, such as lack of continuity of care and high thresholds for accessing specialised services.

Conclusion

Identifying people at risk of psychosis in primary care is difficult. Provision of GP training, development of policies that support continuity of care, and improved access to specialised services could help improve the identification of this patient group.

Reprint of: Internalising symptoms mediate the longitudinal association between childhood inflammation and psychotic-like experiences in adulthood

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are part of a continuum of psychosis. Previous longitudinal studies highlighted a relationship between peripheral inflammation during childhood and onset of PLEs in adulthood. In this study, we tested if this association is mediated by internalising and externalising symptoms experienced during childhood and adolescence. To test this hypothesis, we used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We investigated a subsample of 4525 individuals from this cohort with data on interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in childhood (age 9 years). We measured PLEs at age 18 years, and we used latent growth curve modelling to estimate longitudinal trajectories of internalising and externalising symptoms from ages 9 to 16 years. The individual predicted values of the intercept (set at baseline, 9 years) and the slope (rate of annual change) were then used in the mediation analysis. There was evidence for full mediation by the intercept of internalising symptoms. Our findings suggest that inflammation during childhood may be relevant for the future onset of PLEs via its association with a high level of internalising symptoms. These findings, although obtained from a non-clinical population, provide an additional step in advancing knowledge on the relationship between inflammation and symptoms of the psychosis continuum.

Interview and questionnaire assessment of cognitive impairment in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: Associations with cognitive test performance, psychosocial functioning, and positive symptoms

Impaired cognitive test performance is well-documented in subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. However, assessment of cognitive deficits as manifested in real life is a neglected area of UHR research that may add to the understanding of cognitive impairment and its relationship with psychosocial functioning and positive symptomatology. This study applied the interview-based Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS) and the questionnaire-based Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult Version (BRIEF-A) in a cross-sectional sample of 39 UHR subjects and 50 healthy controls. Cognitive test performance, psychosocial functioning, and positive symptoms were also assessed. The UHR subjects demonstrated significant cognitive impairment, with large effect sizes for the SCoRS and BRIEF-A composite outcome variables (rs = -0.67 to -0.80) and a neurocognitive composite score (d = -0.97). Within the UHR group, several significant associations between worse cognitive ratings and worse cognitive test performance (rs = -0.210 to -0.343), poorer psychosocial functioning (rs = -0.058 to -0.728), and worse positive symptoms (rs= 0.415 to 0.478) were found. Worse cognitive test performance showed significant associations with more pronounced positive symptoms (rs = -0.299 to -0.457). Interview and questionnaire assessment may hold promise for supplementing traditional performance-based cognitive assessment in identifying treatment targets in the UHR population.

Worldwide implementation of clinical services for the prevention of psychosis: The IEPA early intervention in mental health survey

BACKGROUND

Clinical research into the Clinical High Risk state for Psychosis (CHR-P) has allowed primary indicated prevention in psychiatry to improve outcomes of psychotic disorders. The strategic component of this approach is the implementation of clinical services to detect and take care of CHR-P individuals, which are recommended by several guidelines. The actual level of implementation of CHR-P services worldwide is not completely clear.

AIM

To assess the global geographical distribution, core characteristics relating to the level of implementation of CHR-P services; to overview of the main barriers that limit their implementation at scale.

METHODS

CHR-P services worldwide were invited to complete an online survey. The survey addressed the geographical distribution, general implementation characteristics and implementation barriers.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 47 CHR-P services offering care to 22 248 CHR-P individuals: Western Europe (51.1%), North America (17.0%), East Asia (17.0%), Australia (6.4%), South America (6.4%) and Africa (2.1%). Their implementation characteristics included heterogeneous clinical settings, assessment instruments and length of care offered. Most CHR-P patients were recruited through mental or physical health services. Preventive interventions included clinical monitoring and crisis management (80.1%), supportive therapy (70.2%) or structured psychotherapy (61.7%), in combination with pharmacological treatment (in 74.5%). Core implementation barriers were staffing and financial constraints, and the recruitment of CHR-P individuals. The dynamic map of CHR-P services has been implemented on the IEPA website: https://iepa.org.au/list-a-service/.

CONCLUSIONS

Worldwide primary indicated prevention of psychosis in CHR-P individuals is possible, but the implementation of CHR-P services is heterogeneous and constrained by pragmatic challenges.

Social reward processing: A biomarker for predicting psychosis risk?

The desire to obtain social rewards (e.g. positive feedback) features prominently in our lives and relationships, and is relevant to understanding psychopathology - where behavior is often impaired. Investigating social rewards within the psychosis-spectrum offers an especially useful opportunity, given the high rates of impaired social functioning and social isolation. The goal of this study was to investigate hedonic experience associated with social reward processing as a potential biomarker for psychosis risk. This study used a task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in adolescents at clinical high-risk for the development of psychosis (CHR, n = 19) and healthy unaffected peers (healthy controls - HC, n = 20). Regional activation and connectivity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum were examined in response to receiving positive social feedback relative to an ambiguous feedback condition. Expectations of impaired hedonic processes in CHR youth were generally not supported, as there were no group differences in neural response or task-based connectivity. Although interesting relationships were found linking neural reward response and connectivity with social, anticipatory, and consummatory anhedonia in the CHR group, results are difficult to interpret in light of task limitations. We discuss potential implications for future study designs that seek to investigate social reward processing as a biomarker for psychosis risk.

Evidence of reward system dysfunction in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis from two event-related fMRI paradigms

Abnormal reward processing is thought to play an important role in the development of psychosis, but relatively few studies have examined reward prediction errors, reinforcement learning (RL), and the reward circuitry that subserves these interconnected processes among individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for the disorder. Here, we present behavioral and functional neuroimaging results of two experimental tasks designed to measure overlapping aspects of reward processing among individuals at CHR (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 19). We found no group differences in response times to positive, negative, or neutral outcome-signaling cues, and no significant differences in brain activation during reward anticipation or receipt. Youth at CHR, however, displayed clear RL impairments, as well as attenuated responses to rewards and blunted prediction error signals in the ventral striatum, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Greater contrasts for cue valence (gain-loss) and outcome magnitude (large-small) in the vmPFC were associated with more severe negative symptoms, and deficits in dACC signaling during RL were associated with more depressive symptoms. Our results provide evidence for RL deficits and abnormal prediction error signaling in the brain's reward circuitry among individuals at CHR, while also suggesting that reward motivation may be relatively preserved at this stage in development. Longitudinal studies, medication-free participants, and comparison of neurobehavioral measures against both healthy and clinical controls are needed to better understand the role of reward system abnormalities in the development of psychosis.

Expanding the search for emerging mental ill health to safeguard student potential and vocational success in high school: A narrative review

AIM

Young people experiencing mental ill health are more likely than their healthy aged peers to drop out of high school. This can result in social exclusion and vocational derailment. Identifying young people at risk and taking action before an illness is established or school dropout occurs is an important goal. This study aimed to examine evidence for the risk markers and at risk mental states of the clinical staging model (stage 0-1b) and whether these risk states and early symptoms impact school participation and academic attainment.

METHOD

This narrative review assembles research from both the psychiatry and education literature. It examines stage 0 to stage 1b of the clinical staging model and links the risk states and early symptoms to evidence about the academic success of young people in high school.

RESULTS

In accordance with the clinical staging model and evidence from education literature, childhood trauma and parental mental illness can impact school engagement and academic progress. Sleep disturbance can result in academic failure. Undifferentiated depression and anxiety can increase the risk for school dropout. Subthreshold psychosis and hypomanic states are associated with functional impairment and high rates of Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) but are not recognized in the education literature.

CONCLUSION

Risk markers for emerging mental ill health can be identified in education research and demonstrate an impact on a student's success in high school. Clear referral protocols need to be embedded into school life to reduce risk of progression to later stages of illness and support school participation and success.

Cortical Complexity in People at Ultra-High-Risk for Psychosis Moderated by Childhood Trauma

Subjects with ultra-high risk (UHR) states for psychosis show brain structural volume changes similar to first-episode psychosis and also elevated incidence of environmental risk factors like childhood trauma. It is unclear, however, whether early neurodevelopmental trajectories are altered in UHR. We screened a total of 12,779 first-year Chinese students to enroll 36 UHR subjects (based on clinical interviews) and 59 non-UHR healthy controls for a case-control study of markers of early neurodevelopment. Subjects underwent 3T MRI scanning and clinical characterization, including the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). We then used the CAT12 toolbox to analyse structural brain scans for cortical surface complexity, a spherical harmonics-based marker of early neurodevelopmental changes. While we did not find statistically significant differences between the groups, a trend level finding for reduced cortical complexity (CC) in UHR vs. non-UHR subjects emerged in the left superior temporal cortex (and adjacent insular and transverse temporal cortices), and this trend level association was significantly moderated by childhood trauma (CTQ score). Our findings indicate that UHR subjects tend to show abnormal cortical surface morphometry, in line with recent research; more importantly, however, this association seems to be considerably modulated by early environmental impacts. Hence, our results provide an indication of environmental or gene × environment interactions on early neurodevelopment leading up to elevated psychosis risk.

Deriving symptom networks from digital phenotyping data in serious mental illness

BACKGROUND

Symptoms of serious mental illness are multidimensional and often interact in complex ways. Generative models offer value in elucidating the underlying relationships that characterise these networks of symptoms.

AIMS

In this paper we use generative models to find unique interactions of schizophrenia symptoms as experienced on a moment-by-moment basis.

METHOD

Self-reported mood, anxiety and psychosis symptoms, self-reported measurements of sleep quality and social function, cognitive assessment, and smartphone touch screen data from two assessments modelled after the Trail Making A and B tests were collected with a digital phenotyping app for 47 patients in active treatment for schizophrenia over a 90-day period. Patients were retrospectively divided up into various non-exclusive subgroups based on measurements of depression, anxiety, sleep duration, cognition and psychosis symptoms taken in the clinic. Associated transition probabilities for the patient cohort and for the clinical subgroups were calculated using state transitions between adjacent 3-day timesteps of pairwise survey domains.

RESULTS

The three highest probabilities for associated transitions across all patients were anxiety-inducing mood (0.357, P < 0.001), psychosis-inducing mood (0.276, P < 0.001), and anxiety-inducing poor sleep (0.268, P < 0.001). These transition probabilities were compared against a validation set of 17 patients from a pilot study, and no significant differences were found. Unique symptom networks were found for clinical subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a generative model using digital phenotyping data, we show that certain symptoms of schizophrenia may play a role in elevating other schizophrenia symptoms in future timesteps. Symptom networks show that it is feasible to create clinically interpretable models that reflect the unique symptom interactions of psychosis-spectrum illness. These results offer a framework for researchers capturing temporal dynamics, for clinicians seeking to move towards preventative care, and for patients to better understand their lived experience.

Predicting the individual risk of psychosis conversion in at-risk mental state (ARMS): a multivariate model reveals the influence of nonpsychotic prodromal symptoms

To improve the prediction of the individual risk of conversion to psychosis in UHR subjects, by considering all CAARMS' symptoms at first presentation and using a multivariate machine learning method known as logistic regression with Elastic-net shrinkage. 46 young individuals who sought help from the specialized outpatient unit at Sainte-Anne hospital and who met CAARMS criteria for UHR were assessed, among whom 27 were reassessed at follow-up (22.4 ± 6.54 months) and included in the analysis. Elastic net logistic regression was trained, using CAARMS items at baseline to predict individual evolution between converters (UHR-P) and non-converters (UHR-NP). Elastic-net was used to select the few CAARMS items that best predict the clinical evolution. All validations and significances of predictive models were computed with non-parametric re-sampling strategies that provide robust estimators even when the distributional assumption cannot be guaranteed. Among the 25 CAARMS items, the Elastic net selected 'obsessive-compulsive symptoms' and 'aggression/dangerous behavior' as risk factors for conversion while 'anhedonia' and 'mood swings/lability' were associated with non-conversion at follow-up. In the ten-fold stratified cross-validation, the classification achieved 81.8% of sensitivity (P = 0.035) and 93.7% of specificity (P = 0.0016). Non-psychotic prodromal symptoms bring valuable information to improve the prediction of conversion to psychosis. Elastic net logistic regression applied to clinical data is a promising way to switch from group prediction to an individualized prediction.

Real-world long-term outcomes in individuals at clinical risk for psychosis: The case for extending duration of care

BACKGROUND

Most services for individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) provide short-term clinical care. This study determines the real-world and long-term clinical outcomes beyond transition to psychosis in a large cohort of CHR-P individuals.

METHOD

Retrospective RECORD-compliant real-world Electronic Health Records (EHR) cohort study in secondary mental health care (the South London and the Maudsley -SLaM- NHS Foundation Trust). All CHR-P patients accessing the CHR-P service at SLaM in the period 2001-2018 were included. Main outcomes were long-term cumulative risk of first: (i) developing an ICD-10 psychotic disorder (primary outcome), receiving a treatment with (iia) antipsychotic medication, (iib) benzodiazepines, (iic) other psychotropic medications, (iid) psychotherapy, receiving an (iiia) informal or (iiib) compulsory admission into a mental health hospital, and the time to these events; (iiic) number of days spent in hospital and (iv) cumulative risk of death for any reason and age/gender Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR). Data were extracted from the EHR and analysed with Kaplan Meier failure functions, Cox and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions.

FINDINGS

600 CHR-P patients (80.43% Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms, APS; 18.06%, Brief and Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms, BLIPS, 1.51% Genetic Risk and Deterioration Syndrome) were included (mean age 22.63 years, range 13-36; 55.33% males; 46.44% white, mean duration of untreated attenuated psychotic symptoms 676.32 days, 1105.40 SD). The cumulative risk to first psychosis was 0.365 (95%CI 0.302-0.437) at 11 years; first antipsychotic 0.777 (95%CI 0.702-0.844) at 9 years; first benzodiazepine 0.259 (95%CI 0.183-0.359) at 12 years; first other types of medications 0.630 (95%CI 0.538-0.772) at 9 years; first psychotherapy 0.814 (95%CI 0.764-0.859) at 9 years; first informal admission 0.378 (95%CI 0.249-0.546) at 12 years; first compulsory admission 0.251 (95%CI 0.175-0.352) at 12 years; those admitted spent on average 94.84 (SD=169.94) days in hospital; the cumulative risk of death for any reason was 0.036 (95%CI 0.012-0.103) at 9 years, with an SMR of 3.9 (95%CI 1.20-6.6). Compared to APS, BLIPS had a higher risk of developing psychosis, being admitted compulsorily into hospital, receiving antipsychotics and benzodiazepines and lower probability of receiving psychotherapy. Other prognostic factors of long-term outcomes included age, symptoms severity, duration of untreated attenuated psychotic symptoms, ethnicity and employment status.

INTERPRETATION

Duration of care provided by CHR-P services should be expanded to address long-term real-world outcomes.

FUNDING

This study was supported by the King's College London Confidence in Concept award from the Medical Research Council (MRC) (MC_PC_16048) to PF-P. GSP is supported by the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation. HB is supported by a National Institute for Health Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre studentship.

Linking psychophysiological adaptation, emotion regulation, and subjective stress to the occurrence of paranoia in daily life

As stress is relevant to the formation of paranoia, maladaptive behavioral and physiological stress regulation is discussed as a crucial indicator of vulnerability. This is supported by research linking psychosis to the tendency to make less use of functional and more use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies (ER) and with a lower vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV). However, it remains unclear whether ER serves as a mediator between resting-state HRV on the one hand and subjective stress levels and paranoia on the other and whether this is specific to paranoia as compared to depression. We used an experience sampling method during seven days to repeatedly assess the experience of stress, usage of ER strategies, paranoia und depression (9/day) in a sample with subclinical positive symptoms (N = 32). Resting-state HRV was measured during a 5min interval in the laboratory. Data was analyzed by multi-level models. Higher resting-state HRV was predictive of lower stress-levels and of using more functional ER strategies (reappraisal, acceptance) in daily life, but did not predict the use of dysfunctional strategies (rumination, suppression) or paranoia. The association between resting-state HRV and stress was mediated by the usage of functional ER. Less functional and more dysfunctional ER were linked to higher levels of stress, paranoia and depression. Our study highlights that deficits in ER represent a link between psychophysiological and phenomenological aspects of paranoia but also of depression. This encourages to further investigate transdiagnostic prevention and therapy programs aiming to improve ER and to increase HRV.

Progression from being at-risk to psychosis: next steps

Over the past 20 years there has been a great deal of research into those considered to be at risk for developing psychosis. Much has been learned and studies have been encouraging. The aim of this paper is to offer an update of the current status of research on risk for psychosis, and what the next steps might be in examining the progression from CHR to psychosis. Advances have been made in accurate prediction, yet there are some methodological issues in ascertainment, diagnosis, the use of data-driven selection methods and lack of external validation. Although there have been several high-quality treatment trials the heterogeneity of this clinical high-risk population has to be addressed so that their treatment needs can be properly met. Recommendations for the future include more collaborative research programmes, and ensuring they are accessible and harmonized with respect to criteria and outcomes so that the field can continue to move forward with the development of large collaborative consortiums as well as increased funding for multisite projects.

Outreach and support in South-London (OASIS) 2001-2020: Twenty years of early detection, prognosis and preventive care for young people at risk of psychosis

This study aims to describe twenty years of early detection, prognosis and preventive care in the Outreach and Support In South-London (OASIS) mental health service for individuals at Clinical High risk of psychosis (CHR-P). The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the 2001- 2020 activity of the OASIS team encompassing core domains: (i) service characteristics, (ii) detection, (iii) prognosis, (iv) treatment and (v) clinical research. The analyses employed descriptive statistics, population-level data, the epidemiological incidence of psychosis, Kaplan Meier failure functions and Greenwood 95% CIs and Electronic Health Records. OASIS is part of the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS trust, the largest European mental health provider, serving a total urban population of 1,358,646 individuals (population aged 16-35: 454,525). Incidence of psychosis in OASIS's catchment area ranges from 58.3 to 71.9 cases per 100,000 person-years, and it is higher than the national average of 41.5 cases per 100,000 person-year. OASIS is a standalone, NHS-funded, multidisciplinary (team leader, consultant and junior psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, mental health professionals), transitional (for those aged 14-35 years) community mental health service with a yearly caseload of 140 CHR-P individuals. OASIS regularly delivers a comprehensive service promotion outreach to several local community organisations. Referrals to OASIS (2366) are made by numerous agencies; about one-third of the referrals eventually met CHR-P criteria. Overall, 600 CHR-P individuals (55.33% males, mean age 22.63 years, white ethnicity 46.44%) have been under the care of the OASIS service: 80.43% met attenuated psychotic symptoms, 18.06% brief and limited intermittent psychotic symptoms and 1.51% genetic risk and deterioration CHR-P criteria. All CHR-P individuals were offered cognitive behavioural therapy and psychosocial support; medications were used depending on individual needs. The cumulative risk of psychosis at ten years was 0.365 (95%CI 0.302-0.437). At six years follow-up, across two-third of individuals non-transitioning to psychosis, 79.24% still displayed some mental health problem, and only 20.75% achieved a complete clinical remission. Research conducted at OASIS encompassed clinical, prognostic, neurobiological and interventional studies and leveraged local, national and international infrastructures; over the past ten years, OASIS-related research attracted about £ 50 million of grant income, with 5,922 citations in the international databases. Future developments may include broadening OASIS to prevent other serious mental disorders beyond psychosis and fostering translational risk prediction and interventional research. With a twenty-years activity, OASIS' cutting-edge quality of preventive care, combined with translational research innovations, consolidated the service as a leading reference model for evidence-based prevention of psychosis worldwide.

Google search activity in early psychosis: A qualitative analysis of internet search query content in first episode psychosis

AIM

Manually explore the Google search queries of individuals with first episode psychosis prior to their first hospitalization, in effort to identify common themes and search interests during the period of emerging illness.

METHODS

Individuals hospitalized for psychosis between December 2016 and September 2017 provided access to their Google archive data for manual qualitative evaluation of search content. Searches conducted during the 6-month time period prior to the participant's first hospitalization for psychosis were extracted and evaluated for search activity associated with mental health.

RESULTS

Of 20 archives reviewed, 15 individuals (75%) searched for information classified by reviewers as related to mental health. Searches with content associated with delusions were found in 15 participant archives (75%). Searches related to negative symptoms including social withdrawal and decline in function were identified in 6 participant's search archives (30%). Four participants (20%) had searches that were associated with thought processes, and 2 participants (10%) searched for information on suicide. Four participants (20%) searched for information related to anxiety, whereas 3 participants (15%) had searches related to depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with early psychosis appear to be using the Internet for obtaining information about their early symptoms and experiences prior to their first contact with psychiatric care. Improving our understanding of the ways by which individuals with emerging psychosis search for information about their experiences online may help mental health clinicians tailor online resources in hopes of improving pathways to care and reducing the duration of untreated psychosis.

Real-World Clinical Outcomes Two Years After Transition to Psychosis in Individuals at Clinical High Risk: Electronic Health Record Cohort Study

The objective of this study is to describe the 2-year real-world clinical outcomes after transition to psychosis in patients at clinical high-risk. The study used the clinical electronic health record cohort study including all patients receiving a first index primary diagnosis of nonorganic International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 psychotic disorder within the early psychosis pathway in the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) National Health Service (NHS) Trust from 2001 to 2017. Outcomes encompassed: cumulative probability (at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months) of receiving a first (1) treatment with antipsychotic, (2) informal admission, (3) compulsory admission, and (4) treatment with clozapine and (5) numbers of days spent in hospital (at 12 and 24 months) in patients transitioning to psychosis from clinical high-risk services (Outreach and Support in south London; OASIS) compared to other first-episode groups. Analyses included logistic and 0-inflated negative binomial regressions. In the study, 1561 patients were included; those who had initially been managed by OASIS and had subsequently transitioned to a first episode of psychosis (n = 130) were more likely to receive antipsychotic medication (at 3, 6, and 24 months; all P < .023), to be admitted informally (at all timepoints, all P < .004) and on a compulsory basis (at all timepoints, all P < .013), and to have spent more time in hospital (all timepoints, all P < .007) than first-episode patients who were already psychotic when seen by the OASIS service (n = 310), or presented to early intervention services (n = 1121). The likelihood of receiving clozapine was similar across all groups (at 12/24 months, all P < .101). Transition to psychosis from a clinical high-risk state is associated with severe real-world clinical outcomes. Prevention of transition to psychosis should remain a core target of future research. The study protocol was registered on www.researchregistry.com; researchregistry5039).

Toward a Complex Network of Risks for Psychosis: Combining Trauma, Cognitive Biases, Depression, and Psychotic-like Experiences on a Large Sample of Young Adults

Although the linkage between traumatic life events and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) is well established, the knowledge of potential mechanisms of this relationship is scarce. The aim of the present study was to better understand the structure of connections between traumatic life events and PLEs by considering at the same time the role of cognitive biases and depressive symptoms in the population of young adults (18-35 years of age, M = 26.52, SD = 4.74, n = 6772). Our study was conducted within a framework of network analysis. PLEs were measured with the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16), cognitive biases were measured with nine items from the Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale-18 (DACOBS-18), depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CESD-R) and exposure to traumatic life events was measured with a combination of Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q) and Traumatic Experience Checklist (TEC). The results present a network of all nodes being interconnected within and between domains, with no isolated factors. Exposures to sexual trauma were the most central node in the network. Pathways were identified from trauma to PLEs via cognitive biases and depressive symptoms. However, the shortest pathway between the most central traumatic life event and PLEs was through other traumatic life events, without cognitive biases or depressive symptoms along the way. Our findings suggest the importance of environmental adversities as well as dysfunctional information processing and depression in the network of psychosis risks.

A Mendelian randomization study of the causal association between anxiety phenotypes and schizophrenia

Schizophrenia shows a genetic correlation with both anxiety disorder and neuroticism, a trait strongly associated with anxiety. However, genetic correlations do not discern causality from genetic confounding. We therefore aimed to investigate whether anxiety-related phenotypes lie on the causal pathway to schizophrenia using Mendelian randomization (MR). Four MR methods, each with different assumptions regarding instrument validity, were used to investigate casual associations of anxiety and neuroticism related phenotypes on schizophrenia, and vice versa: inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, weighted mode, and, when appropriate, MR Egger regression. MR provided evidence of a causal effect of neuroticism on schizophrenia (IVW odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.59), but only weak evidence of a causal effect of anxiety on schizophrenia (IVW OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19). There was also evidence of a causal association from schizophrenia liability to anxiety disorder (IVW OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.18-1.39) and worry (IVW beta: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.03-0.07), but effect estimates from schizophrenia to neuroticism were inconsistent in the main analysis. The evidence of neuroticism increasing schizophrenia risk provided by our results supports future efforts to evaluate neuroticism- or anxiety-based therapies to prevent onset of psychotic disorders.

Diagnostic conversion from unipolar depression to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder: A nationwide prospective 15-year register study on 43 495 inpatients

OBJECTIVE

To examine temporal patterns and predictors for diagnostic conversion from unipolar depression (UD) to bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder (SAD).

METHODS

A prospective nationwide register-based cohort (n = 43 495) of all first psychiatric hospitalizations due to UD during 1996-2011 was followed up to 15 years. We used cumulative incidence function (CIF) analyses and the Fine-Gray subdistribution model to define the cumulative incidence of the conversions and subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) for predictors.

RESULTS

The overall 15-year cumulative incidence of conversion was 11.1% (95% CI 10.7-11.6): 7.4% (95% CI 7.0-7.8) for BD, 2.5% (95% CI 2.3-2.7) for schizophrenia, and 1.3% (95% CI 1.1-1.4) for SAD. The highest crude incidence rate emerged during the first year. Psychotic depression predicted higher conversion risk to BD (SHR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7), schizophrenia (SHR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.3-8.7), and SAD (SHR = 10.6, 95% CI 4.0-28.4) than mild depression. Female sex, greater overall disturbance, and comorbid personality disorder predicted conversion to BD, whereas young age and male sex to psychotic disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with first hospitalization due to UD, approximately one in nine converts to another major psychiatric disorder during 15 years, with the highest risk occurring within the first year. Patients with psychotic depression are particularly vulnerable for conversion to other major psychiatric disorders. Conversion to psychotic disorders occurs earlier than to BD. Males are at higher risk for progression to psychotic disorders, whereas females, patients with recurrent depressive episodes, severe disturbance of overall functioning, and personality disorder are at higher risk for converting to BD.

Neuropsychological profile of children and adolescents with psychosis risk syndrome: the CAPRIS study

Neuropsychological underperformance is well described in young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis, but the literature is scarce on the cognitive profile of at-risk children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to describe the neuropsychological profile of a child and adolescent sample of patients with psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) compared to healthy controls and to analyze associations between attenuated psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional baseline data analysis from a longitudinal, naturalistic, case-control, two-site study is presented. Eighty-one help-seeking subjects with PRS and 39 healthy controls (HC) aged between 10 and 17 years of age were recruited. PRS was defined by: positive or negative attenuated symptoms, Brief Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms (BLIPS), genetic risk (first- or second-degree relative), or schizotypal personality disorder plus impairment in functioning. A neuropsychological battery was administered to assess general intelligence, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial abilities, speed processing, attention, and executive functions. The PRS group showed lower general neuropsychological performance scores at a multivariate level and lower scores than controls in general intelligence and executive functions. Lower scores on executive function and poorer attention were associated with high scores of positive attenuated psychotic symptoms. No association with attenuated negative symptoms was found. This study provides evidence of cognitive impairment in PRS children and adolescents and shows a relationship between greater cognitive impairment in executive functions and attention tasks and severe attenuated positive symptoms. However, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the nature of cognitive impairment as a possible vulnerability marker.

Stress perception following childhood adversity: Unique associations with adversity type and sex

Childhood adversity is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes across the life span. Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are considered a key mechanism underlying these associations, although findings have been mixed. These inconsistencies suggest that other aspects of stress processing may underlie variations in this these associations, and that differences in adversity type, sex, and age may be relevant. The current study investigated the relationship between childhood adversity, stress perception, and morning cortisol, and examined whether differences in adversity type (generalized vs. threat and deprivation), sex, and age had distinct effects on these associations. Salivary cortisol samples, daily hassle stress ratings, and retrospective measures of childhood adversity were collected from a large sample of youth at risk for serious mental illness including psychoses (n = 605, mean age = 19.3). Results indicated that childhood adversity was associated with increased stress perception, which subsequently predicted higher morning cortisol levels; however, these associations were specific to threat exposures in females. These findings highlight the role of stress perception in stress vulnerability following childhood adversity and highlight potential sex differences in the impact of threat exposures.

Associations between facial affect recognition and neurocognition in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: A case-control study

The nature of facial affect recognition (FAR) deficits in subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis remains unclear. In schizophrenia, associations between FAR impairment and poor neurocognition have been demonstrated meta-analytically, but this potential link is understudied in the UHR population. Our study investigated a cross-sectional sample of UHR subjects (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 50), with the Degraded Facial Affect Recognition (DFAR) Task and a neurocognitive test battery. Our primary aims were 1. to examine associations between FAR and neurocognition in UHR subjects and 2. to examine if associations differed between cases and controls. The secondary aim was to examine group differences in FAR and neurocognitive performance. In UHR subjects, FAR was significantly associated with working memory, a neurocognitive composite score and intelligence, and at trend level with most other assessed neurocognitive domains, with moderate to large effect sizes. There were no significant associations in controls. Associations between FAR and working memory and the neurocognitive composite score differed significantly between cases and controls. UHR subjects did not differ from controls on DFAR Task performance but showed significant deficits in three of six neurocognitive domains. Results may suggest that FAR is associated with working memory in UHR subjects, possibly reflecting a neurocognitive compensatory mechanism.

Anhedonia in young people with first episode psychosis: a longitudinal study

Aim: Previous research observed deficits in pleasure experience in chronic schizophrenia, but little is known about anhedonia in early psychosis. Aim of this study is: (1) to examine anhedonia in distinct help-seeking subgroups of young people identified through the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) criteria, (2) to investigate its correlations with psychopathology in the FEP sample, and (3) to monitor longitudinally its stability in the FEP group along 1-year follow-up period.Materials and methods: All participants (137 FEP and 95 nonpsychotic psychiatric controls [i.e. non-FEP]), aged 13-35 years, completed the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief version (SPQ-B), the Brief O-LIFE questionnaire (BOL), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF). We used two different indexes of anhedonia: CAARMS 'Anhedonia' item 4.3 and BOL 'Introvertive Anhedonia' subscale scores.Results: In comparison with non-FEP, FEP patients showed higher baseline anhedonia scores. After 1-year follow-up period, FEP individuals had a significant decrease in severity of anhedonia scores. In the FEP group, anhedonia showed significant, enduring (over time) correlations with impaired role functioning, negative symptoms, comorbid depression, poorer self-perceived quality of life and specific schizotypal personality traits (i.e. interpersonal deficits).Conclusions: Anhedonia is relevant in the early phase of psychosis and its severity is associated with functioning deterioration and a bad quality of life.

The neurobiology of suicide in psychosis: A systematic review

The lifetime risk of dying by suicide in schizophrenia and related psychoses has been estimated to be approximately between 5% and 7%, though some have estimated that the number is closer to 10%. The highest risk for suicide occurs within the first year after presentation, when patients have a 12 times greater risk of dying by suicide than the general population, or a 60% higher risk compared with patients in other phases of psychosis, although the risk continues for many years. Some 31% of all deaths in first and early episode samples are due to suicide. Studies in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) or with attenuated positive symptoms also demonstrate that suicidality is common and problematic in these individuals. Therefore, suicide in psychosis is a particularly severe problem. In order to develop interventions aimed at reducing the risk of suicide in psychotic individuals, it will be critical to understand the neurobiology of suicide in psychosis. In this paper, I report on the results of a systematic review of the work done to date on the neurobiology of suicide in psychosis and on suicidality in the CHR period. I will also identify gaps in knowledge and discuss future strategies for studying the neurobiology of suicidality in psychosis that may help to disentangle the links between suicide and psychosis and, by doing so, allow us to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between suicide and psychosis, which is critical for developing interventions aimed at reducing the risk of suicide in psychotic individuals.

The association between perceived racial discrimination and subclinical symptoms of psychosis

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling disorders with the poorest outcomes. Cross-cultural research indicates an association between perceived racial discrimination and depression, anxiety, general psychological distress, and psychotic-spectrum disorders. Studies also find that coping moderates the relationship between discrimination and depression. Assessing subclinical symptoms may be useful in prevention efforts.

AIMS

The study aims to (1) assess if perceived racial discrimination is associated with psychosis subclinical symptoms among a non-clinical sample and (2) examine the role of maladaptive coping and depression, anxiety, and stress.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 261 ethnic minority undergraduate students. A structural equation model using a subclinical psychosis latent variable within a moderated mediation model assessed relationships between racial discrimination, maladaptive coping, depression, anxiety, and stress, and subclinical psychosis.

RESULTS

Perceived racial discrimination was associated with greater subclinical symptoms of psychosis through increased depression, anxiety, and stress at greater levels of maladaptive coping.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing risk factors that can be targeted, such as perceived discrimination and maladaptive coping, may have implications for vulnerable populations.

Intranasal oxytocin increases heart-rate variability in men at clinical high risk for psychosis: a proof-of-concept study

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction (i.e., increased sympathetic and/or decreased parasympathetic activity) has been proposed to contribute to psychosis vulnerability. Yet, we still lack directed therapeutic strategies that improve ANS regulation in psychosis or at-risk states. The oxytocin system constitutes a potential therapeutic target, given its role in ANS regulation. However, whether intranasal oxytocin ameliorates autonomic regulation during emerging psychosis is currently unknown. We pooled together two datasets, one of 30 men at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P), and another of 17 healthy men, who had participated in two double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, crossover MRI studies with similar protocols. All participants self-administered 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin or placebo using a nasal spray. We recorded pulse plethysmography during a period of 8 min at about 1 h post dosing and estimated heart rate (HR) and high-frequency HR variability (HF-HRV), an index of cardio-parasympathetic activity. CHR-P and healthy men did not differ at resting HR or HF-HRV under placebo. We found a significant condition × treatment effect for HF-HRV, showing that intranasal oxytocin, compared with placebo, increased HF-HRV in CHR-P but not in healthy men. The main effects of treatment and condition were not significant. In this proof-of-concept study, we show that intranasal oxytocin increases cardio-parasympathetic activity in CHR-P men, highlighting its therapeutic potential to improve autonomic regulation in this clinical group. Our findings support the need for further research on the preventive and therapeutic potential of intranasal oxytocin during emerging psychosis, where we lack effective treatments.

Prevention of Psychosis: Advances in Detection, Prognosis, and Intervention

IMPORTANCE

Detection, prognosis, and indicated interventions in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) are key components of preventive psychiatry.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a comprehensive, evidence-based systematic appraisal of the advancements and limitations of detection, prognosis, and interventions for CHR-P individuals and to formulate updated recommendations.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Reviews, and Ovid/PsychINFO were searched for articles published from January 1, 2013, to June 30, 2019, to identify meta-analyses conducted in CHR-P individuals. MEDLINE was used to search the reference lists of retrieved articles. Data obtained from each article included first author, year of publication, topic investigated, type of publication, study design and number, sample size of CHR-P population and comparison group, type of comparison group, age and sex of CHR-P individuals, type of prognostic assessment, interventions, quality assessment (using AMSTAR [Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews]), and key findings with their effect sizes.

FINDINGS

In total, 42 meta-analyses published in the past 6 years and encompassing 81 outcomes were included. For the detection component, CHR-P individuals were young (mean [SD] age, 20.6 [3.2] years), were more frequently male (58%), and predominantly presented with attenuated psychotic symptoms lasting for more than 1 year before their presentation at specialized services. CHR-P individuals accumulated several sociodemographic risk factors compared with control participants. Substance use (33% tobacco use and 27% cannabis use), comorbid mental disorders (41% with depressive disorders and 15% with anxiety disorders), suicidal ideation (66%), and self-harm (49%) were also frequently seen in CHR-P individuals. CHR-P individuals showed impairments in work (Cohen d = 0.57) or educational functioning (Cohen d = 0.21), social functioning (Cohen d = 1.25), and quality of life (Cohen d = 1.75). Several neurobiological and neurocognitive alterations were confirmed in this study. For the prognosis component, the prognostic accuracy of CHR-P instruments was good, provided they were used in clinical samples. Overall, risk of psychosis was 22% at 3 years, and the risk was the highest in the brief and limited intermittent psychotic symptoms subgroup (38%). Baseline severity of attenuated psychotic (Cohen d = 0.35) and negative symptoms (Cohen d = 0.39) as well as low functioning (Cohen d = 0.29) were associated with an increased risk of psychosis. Controlling risk enrichment and implementing sequential risk assessments can optimize prognostic accuracy. For the intervention component, no robust evidence yet exists to favor any indicated intervention over another (including needs-based interventions and control conditions) for preventing psychosis or ameliorating any other outcome in CHR-P individuals. However, because the uncertainty of this evidence is high, needs-based and psychological interventions should still be offered.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This review confirmed recent substantial advancements in the detection and prognosis of CHR-P individuals while suggesting that effective indicated interventions need to be identified. This evidence suggests a need for specialized services to detect CHR-P individuals in primary and secondary care settings, to formulate a prognosis with validated psychometric instruments, and to offer needs-based and psychological interventions.

Psychological interventions for people with psychotic experiences: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled effectiveness and economic studies

OBJECTIVE

Many people with psychotic experiences do not develop psychotic disorders, yet those who seek help demonstrate high clinical complexity and poor outcomes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of psychological interventions for people with psychotic experiences.

METHOD

We searched 13 databases for studies of psychological interventions for adults with psychotic experiences, but not psychotic disorders. Our outcomes were the proportion of participants remitting from psychotic experiences (primary); changes in positive and negative psychotic symptoms, depression, anxiety, functioning, distress, and quality of life; and economic outcomes (secondary). We analysed results using multilevel random-effects meta-analysis and narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 27 reports met inclusion criteria. In general, there was no strong evidence for the superiority of any one intervention. Five studies reported on our primary outcome, though only two reports provided randomised controlled trial evidence that psychological intervention (specifically, cognitive behavioural therapy) promoted remission from psychotic experiences. For secondary outcomes, we could only meta-analyse trials of cognitive behavioural therapy. We found that cognitive behavioural therapy was more effective than treatment as usual for reducing distress (pooled standardised mean difference: -0.24; 95% confidence interval = [-0.37, -0.10]), but no more effective than the control treatment for improving any other outcome. Individual reports indicated that cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, sleep cognitive behavioural therapy, systemic therapy, cognitive remediation therapy, and supportive treatments improved at least one clinical or functional outcome. Four reports included economic evaluations, which suggested cognitive behavioural therapy may be cost-effective compared with treatment as usual.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analytic findings were primarily null, with the exception that cognitive behavioural therapy may reduce the distress associated with psychotic experiences. Our analyses were limited by scarcity of studies, small samples and variable study quality. Several intervention frameworks showed preliminary evidence of positive outcomes; however, the paucity of consistent evidence for clinical and functional improvement highlights a need for further research into psychological treatments for psychotic experiences.

PROSPERO PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016033869.

Acute oxytocin effects in inferring others' beliefs and social emotions in people at clinical high risk for psychosis

Social deficits are key hallmarks of the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) state and of established psychotic disorders, and contribute to impaired social functioning, indicating a potential target for interventions. However, current treatments do not significantly ameliorate social impairments in CHR-P individuals. Given its critical role in social behaviour and cognition, the oxytocinergic (OT) system is a promising target for novel interventions in CHR-P subjects. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 30 CHR-P males were studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on two occasions, once after 40IU self-administered intranasal OT and once after placebo. A modified version of the Sally-Anne task was used to assess brain activation during inferring others' beliefs and social emotions. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test was acquired prior to the first scan to test whether OT effects were moderated by baseline social-emotional abilities. OT did not modulate behavioural performances but reduced activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus compared with placebo while inferring others' social emotions. Furthermore, the relationship between brain activation and task performance after OT administration was moderated by baseline social-emotional abilities. While task accuracy during inferring others' social emotion increased with decreasing activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus in CHR-P individuals with low social-emotional abilities, there was no such relationship in CHR-P individuals with high social-emotional abilities. Our findings may suggest that acute OT administration enhances neural efficiency in the inferior frontal gyrus during inferring others' social emotions in those CHR-P subjects with low baseline social-emotional abilities.