1
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Ozbek SU, Sut E, Bora E. Comparison of social cognition and neurocognition in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105441. [PMID: 37923237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This report aimed to compare group differences in social and non-social cognition in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia, and examine the influence of age and other factors on group differences. METHODS Literature searches were conducted in Pubmed and Web of Science from January 1980 to August 2022. Original research articles reporting objective measures of cognition were selected. RESULTS 57 articles involving 1864 patients with schizophrenia and 1716 patients with ASD have been included. Schizophrenia was associated with more severe non-social-cognitive impairment, particularly in fluency (g=0.47;CI[0.17-0.76]) and processing speed domains (g=0.41;CI[0.20-0.62]). Poorer performance in social cognition (Z = 3.68,p = 0.0002) and non-social cognition (Z = 2.48,p = 0.01) in schizophrenia were significantly related to older age. ASD was associated with more severe social cognitive impairment when groups were matched for non-social-cognition (g=-0.18, p = 0.04) or reasoning/problem solving (g=-0,62; CI [-1,06-(-0.08)]. DISCUSSION While both disorders present with social and non-social cognitive impairments, the pattern and developmental trajectories of these deficits are different. The limitations included heterogeneity of the cognitive measures, and the lack of sufficient information about antipsychotic use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ekin Sut
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Emre Bora
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria 3053, Australia; Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey.
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2
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Vita A, Barlati S, Deste G, Rossi A, Rocca P, Bertolino A, Aguglia E, Altamura CA, Amore M, Bellomo A, Bucci P, Carpiniello B, Cuomo A, Dell’Osso L, Giuliani L, Marchesi C, Martinotti G, Monteleone P, Montemagni C, Nibbio G, Pasquini M, Pompili M, Rampino A, Roncone R, Rossi R, Siracusano A, Tenconi E, Zeppegno P, Galderisi S, Maj M. Autistic symptoms in unaffected first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia: results from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses multicenter study. Eur Psychiatry 2023; 66:e85. [PMID: 37869966 PMCID: PMC10755574 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic symptoms represent a frequent feature in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). However, the prevalence and the cognitive and functional correlates of autistic symptoms in unaffected first-degree relatives of people with SSD remain to be assessed. METHODS A total of 342 unaffected first-degree relatives related to 247 outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited as part of the multicenter study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses (NIRP). Autistic features were measured with the PANSS Autism Severity Scale. Three groups of participants, defined on the presence and severity of autistic symptoms, were compared on a wide array of cognitive and functional measures. RESULTS Of the total sample, 44.9% presented autistic symptoms; 22.8% showed moderate levels of autistic symptoms, which can be observed in the majority of people with SSD. Participants with higher levels of autistic symptoms showed worse performance on Working Memory (p = 0.014) and Social Cognition (p = 0.025) domains and in the Global Cognition composite score (p = 0.008), as well as worse on functional capacity (p = 0.001), global psychosocial functioning (p < 0.001), real-world interpersonal relationships (p < 0.001), participation in community activities (p = 0.017), and work skills (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of autistic symptoms was observed in first-degree relatives of people with SSD. Autistic symptoms severity showed a negative correlation with cognitive performance and functional outcomes also in this population and may represent a diagnostic and treatment target of considerable scientific and clinical interest in both patients and their first-degree relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Vita
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Barlati
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Paola Bucci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Bernardo Carpiniello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cuomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Department of Mental Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Liliana Dell’Osso
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luigi Giuliani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Cristiana Montemagni
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Nibbio
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, S. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Rampino
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Rita Roncone
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Alberto Siracusano
- Department of Systems Medicine, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Tenconi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zeppegno
- Department of Translational Medicine, Psychiatric Unit, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
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3
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Ballerini M, Galderisi S, Bucci P, Mucci A, Lysaker PH, Stanghellini G. The Autism Rating Scale for Schizophrenia - Revised English Version: An Instrument to Characterize Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Phenotype. Psychopathology 2023; 57:149-158. [PMID: 37311427 DOI: 10.1159/000530588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dis-sociality (DS) reflects the impairment of social experience in people with schizophrenia; it encompasses both negative features (disorder of attunement, inability to grasp the meaning of social contexts, the vanishing of social shared knowledge) and positive features (a peculiar set of values, ruminations not oriented to reality), reflecting the existential arrangement of people with schizophrenia. DS is grounded on the notion of schizophrenic autism as depicted by continental psychopathology. A rating scale has been developed, providing an experiential phenotype. Here we present the Autism Rating Scale for Schizophrenia - Revised English version (ARSS-Rev), developed on the Italian version of the scale. The scale is provided by a structured interview to facilitate the assessment of the phenomena investigated here. ARSS-Rev is composed of 16 distinctive items grouped into 6 categories: hypo-attunement, invasiveness, emotional flooding, algorithmic conception of sociality, antithetical attitude toward sociality, and idionomia. For each item and category, an accurate description is provided. Different intensities of phenomena are assessed through a Likert scale by rating each item according to its quantitative features (frequency, intensity, impairment, and need for coping). The ARSS-Rev has been able to discriminate patients with remitted schizophrenia from euthymic patients with psychotic bipolar disorder. This instrument may be useful in clinical/research settings to demarcate the boundaries of schizophrenia spectrum disorders from affective psychoses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Bucci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Armida Mucci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Paul H Lysaker
- Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Giovanni Stanghellini
- Department of Psychological, Humanistic and Territorial Sciences, G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- D. Portales University, Santiago, Chile
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4
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Nuechterlein KH, Green MF, Kern RS. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery: An Update. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 63:1-18. [PMID: 36306054 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Through a series of NIMH-supported consensus-building meetings of experts and empirical comparisons of candidate tests, the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) initiative developed a battery of standardized cognitive measures to allow reliable evaluation of results from clinical trials of promising interventions for core cognitive deficits in this disorder. Ten tests in seven cognitive domains were selected for the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The MCCB has now been translated into 39 languages/dialects and has been employed in more than 145 clinical trials. It has become the standard cognitive change measure for studies of both pharmacological and training-based interventions seeking to improve cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. We summarize its applications and its relationship to the subsequent development of the NIMH RDoC Matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith H Nuechterlein
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Michael F Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert S Kern
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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5
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Comparelli A, Corigliano V, Montalbani B, Nardella A, De Carolis A, Stampatore L, Bargagna P, Forcina F, Lamis D, Pompili M. Building a neurocognitive profile of suicidal risk in severe mental disorders. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:628. [PMID: 36162995 PMCID: PMC9511976 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04240-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on the influence of neurocognitive factors on suicide risk, regardless of the diagnosis, is inconsistent. Recently, suicide risk studies propose applying a trans-diagnostic framework in line with the launch of the Research Domain Criteria Cognitive Systems model. In the present study, we highlight the extent of cognitive impairment using a standardized battery in a psychiatric sample stratified for different degrees of suicidal risk. We also differentiate in our sample various neurocognitive profiles associated with different levels of risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS We divided a sample of 106 subjects into three groups stratified by suicide risk level: Suicide Attempt (SA), Suicidal Ideation (SI), Patient Controls (PC) and Healthy Controls (HC). We conducted a multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) for each cognitive domain measured through the standardized battery MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). RESULTS We found that the group of patients performed worse than the group of healthy controls on most domains; social cognition was impaired in the suicide risk groups compared both to HC and PC. Patients in the SA group performed worse than those in the SI group. CONCLUSION Social cognition impairment may play a crucial role in suicidality among individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness as it is involved in both SI and SA; noteworthy, it is more compromised in the SA group fitting as a marker of risk severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Comparelli
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant'Andrea, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Benedetta Montalbani
- grid.7841.aPsychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele Nardella
- Department of Psychiatry and Substance Abuse, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonella De Carolis
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Neurosciences, Unit of Neurology, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stampatore
- grid.7841.aPsychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paride Bargagna
- grid.7841.aPsychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Forcina
- grid.7841.aPsychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dorian Lamis
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- grid.7841.aAzienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant’Andrea, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, Italy ,grid.7841.aSuicide Prevention Centre, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
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6
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Nibbio G, Barlati S, Calzavara-Pinton I, Necchini N, Invernizzi E, Dell'Ovo D, Lisoni J, Deste G, Vita A. Assessment and correlates of autistic symptoms in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders measured with the PANSS Autism Severity Score: A systematic review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:934005. [PMID: 36111306 PMCID: PMC9468543 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.934005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are considered separate entities, but the two spectra share important similarities, and the study of these areas of overlap represents a field of growing scientific interest. The PANSS Autism Score (PAUSS) was recently developed specifically to assess autistic symptoms in people living with SSD reliably and quickly. The aims of the present systematic review were to provide a comprehensive assessment of the use of the PAUSS scale in available literature and to systematically analyze cognitive, functional and neurobiological correlates of autistic symptoms measured with this instrument in SSD. The systematic literature search included three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO) as well as a manual search in Google Scholar and in reference lists of included papers. Screening and extraction were conducted by at least two independent reviewers. Out of 213 identified records, 22 articles referring to 15 original studies were included in the systematic review. Studies were conducted in several different countries by independent groups, showing consistent scientific interest in the use of the scale; most works focused on cognitive and functional correlates of ASD symptoms, but some also considered neurobiological features. Results of included studies showed that autistic symptoms in people with SSD are consistently associated with worse cognitive performance, especially in the social cognition domain, and with worse psychosocial functioning. However, the presence of autistic symptoms appears to also have a protective role, particularly on functioning, in subjects with more severe psychotic symptoms. Further exploring the impact of autistic symptoms could be of significant scientific and clinical interest, allowing the development of tailored interventions to improve treatment for people living with SSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Nibbio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Barlati
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Necchini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elena Invernizzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Dario Dell'Ovo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lisoni
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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7
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Mazza M, Pino MC, Keller R, Vagnetti R, Attanasio M, Filocamo A, Le Donne I, Masedu F, Valenti M. Qualitative Differences in Attribution of Mental States to Other People in Autism and Schizophrenia: What are the Tools for Differential Diagnosis? J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:1283-1298. [PMID: 33909212 PMCID: PMC8854268 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The differential diagnosis between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remains an important clinical question, because they have overlap in clinical diagnosis. This study explored the differences between ASD (n = 44) and SSD patients (n = 59), compared to typically developing peers (n = 63), in completing an advanced Theory of Mind (ToM) task. The outcome found several differences between groups. The SSD patients showed greater difficulty in understanding social scenarios, while ASD individuals understood the stories, but did not correctly identify the protagonist’s intention. The interesting aspect of the results is that some ToM stories are more informative about the mentalistic reasoning of the two clinical groups, namely, the stories that investigate pretend, persuasion, double bluff and ironic joke constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Mazza
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Pino
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Roberto Keller
- Reference Centre for Adult Autism of the Piemonte Region, DSM Local Health Unit ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberto Vagnetti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Margherita Attanasio
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Angela Filocamo
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Ilenia Le Donne
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Masedu
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Reference Centre for Autism of the Abruzzo Region, Local Health Unit ASL 1, L’Aquila, Italy
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8
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Horner AE, Norris RH, McLaren-Jones R, Alexander L, Komiyama NH, Grant SGN, Nithianantharajah J, Kopanitsa MV. Learning and reaction times in mouse touchscreen tests are differentially impacted by mutations in genes encoding postsynaptic interacting proteins SYNGAP1, NLGN3, DLGAP1, DLGAP2 and SHANK2. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12723. [PMID: 33347690 PMCID: PMC7615670 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The postsynaptic terminal of vertebrate excitatory synapses contains a highly conserved multiprotein complex that comprises neurotransmitter receptors, cell-adhesion molecules, scaffold proteins and enzymes, which are essential for brain signalling and plasticity underlying behaviour. Increasingly, mutations in genes that encode postsynaptic proteins belonging to the PSD-95 protein complex, continue to be identified in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and epilepsy. These disorders are highly heterogeneous, sharing genetic aetiology and comorbid cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Here, by using genetically engineered mice and innovative touchscreen-based cognitive testing, we sought to investigate whether loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding key interactors of the PSD-95 protein complex display shared phenotypes in associative learning, updating of learned associations and reaction times. Our genetic dissection of mice with loss-of-function mutations in Syngap1, Nlgn3, Dlgap1, Dlgap2 and Shank2 showed that distinct components of the PSD-95 protein complex differentially regulate learning, cognitive flexibility and reaction times in cognitive processing. These data provide insights for understanding how human mutations in these genes lead to the manifestation of diverse and complex phenotypes in NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca H Norris
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Noboru H Komiyama
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Seth G N Grant
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maksym V Kopanitsa
- Synome Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College, London, UK
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9
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Nakata Y, Kanahara N, Kimura A, Niitsu T, Komatsu H, Oda Y, Ishikawa M, Hasegawa T, Kamata Y, Yamauchi A, Inazumi K, Kimura H, Iyo M. Autistic traits and cognitive profiles of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Schizophr Res Cogn 2020; 22:100186. [PMID: 32760657 PMCID: PMC7390750 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2020.100186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The complex pathophysiology of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) includes severe positive symptoms but also other symptom domains. The overlapping psychological profiles of schizophrenia and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are not established. We compared TRS patients (n = 30) with schizophrenia patients in remission (RemSZ, n = 28) and ASD patients (n = 28), focusing on both neurodevelopmental aspects and general and social cognitive impairments. The TRS group performed the worst on general neurocognition (measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery) and social cognition (measured by the theory of mind and emotional expression). The RemSZ group performed the best among the three groups. Regarding autistic traits, all measurements by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient/Autism Screening Questionnaire/Pervasive Developmental Disorder Assessment Rating Scale showed that (1) the ASD patients had the highest autistic traits (2) the TRS patients' scores were less severe than the ASD group's, but (3) the overall trends placed the TRS group between the ASD and the RemSZ group. These findings indicate that TRS patients and remitted patients could have distinctive neurodevelopmental and cognitive profiles. Further, the degrees of social cognitive dysfunction and autistic traits in TRS patients could be close to those of ASD patients, suggesting similarities between TRS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Nakata
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Kanahara
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Corresponding author at: Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Kimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomihisa Niitsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hideki Komatsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasunori Oda
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masatomo Ishikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tadashi Hasegawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Palliative Care Center, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yu Kamata
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yamauchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba Rosai Hospital, Ichihara, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Inazumi
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Gakuji-kai Kimura Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaomi Iyo
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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10
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Øie MG, Andersen PN, Hovik KT, Skogli EW, Rund BR. Similar impairments shown on a neuropsychological test battery in adolescents with high-functioning autism and early onset schizophrenia: a two-year follow-up study. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2020; 25:163-178. [PMID: 31931670 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2020.1713736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairments are common in both Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia, but it is unclear whether the pattern of difficulties is similar or different in the two disorders. This cross-sectional and longitudinal study compared the neuropsychological functioning in adolescents with ASD with adolescents with Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS).Methods: At baseline and at two-year follow-up, participants were assessed with a brief neuropsychological test battery measuring executive functions, visual and verbal learning, delayed recall and recognition and psychomotor speed.Results: We found similar levels of neuropsychological impairment across groups and over time in the adolescents with ASD or EOS. Adolescents in both groups did not improve significantly on verbal learning, verbal delayed recall, visual learning, visual delayed recall or visual delayed recognition, and both groups performed poorer on verbal recognition. Both groups improved on measures of psychomotor processing and executive functions.Conclusion: The findings suggest that it may be difficult to differentiate adolescents with EOS and ASD based on neuropsychological task performance. An implication of the results is that adolescents with either disorder may benefit from a similar approach to the treatment of cognitive impairment in the disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Per Normann Andersen
- Department of Social Work and Guidance, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Kjell Tore Hovik
- Division of Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Sanderud, Norway
| | - Erik Winther Skogli
- Division of Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, BUP Lillehammer, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Bjørn Rishovd Rund
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
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11
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Kuo SS, Eack SM. Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Performance in Neurodevelopmental Disorders during Adulthood: Comparisons between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:187. [PMID: 32273855 PMCID: PMC7114889 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders which show substantial cognitive heterogeneity in adulthood, yet it remains unclear whether cognitive profiles may overlap across these diagnoses. Thus, the aim of this review was to summarize comparisons between ASD and schizophrenia on nonsocial cognition in adulthood. To minimize between-study heterogeneity in a relatively small literature, subtest scaled scores from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were compared between ASD (N=190) and schizophrenia (N=260) in six studies comprising a total of 450 participants. Meta-analyses of 11 subtests indicated that participants with ASD demonstrated significantly better performance than schizophrenia for visuospatial perception and reasoning and problem solving (Hedge's g=0.636), as well as visual attention and organization (g=0.433-0.475). Participants with ASD also demonstrated better performance than those with schizophrenia for working memory (g=0.334) and language (g=0.275), and generally comparable performance on processing speed and verbal comprehension. These findings were largely stable across age, sex, intelligence quotient (IQ), intellectual disability, scale version, and age- and sex-matching. Overall, ASD and schizophrenia showed striking differences in visuospatial perception and reasoning and problem solving, small differences in working memory and language, and substantial overlap in processing speed and verbal comprehension. These cognitive profiles were generally stable from adolescence to middle adulthood. To our knowledge, this is the first review to summarize comparisons of nonsocial cognition in verbal adults with ASD or schizophrenia. These findings are consistent with and substantially extend prior meta-analyses of case-control studies for ASD and schizophrenia (8, 9), which also suggest that, in comparison to neurotypical controls, ASD demonstrates smaller cognitive impairments than schizophrenia across most cognitive domains, particularly working memory, visuospatial learning/memory, and language. Our findings therefore highlight the importance of comparing cognition transdiagnostically to inform the etiologies of these neurodevelopmental disorders and to refine shared and unique targets for remediating cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan S Kuo
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Shaun M Eack
- School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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