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Tanham M, Chen R, Warren N, Heussler H, Scott JG. The effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacotherapy for psychosis in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2024; 58:393-403. [PMID: 38383990 DOI: 10.1177/00048674241233118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) is the most common microdeletion in humans with over 180 phenotypic expressions. Approximately 30-40% of affected individuals will develop psychosis and 25% meet the criteria for schizophrenia. Despite this, pharmacotherapy for managing psychosis in 22q11.2DS is poorly understood and 22q11.2DS psychosis is frequently labelled as treatment resistant. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacotherapy for 22q11.2DS psychosis and evaluate the evidence for treatment resistance. METHOD A systematic search was performed using CINAHL, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Clinical Answers), EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection from inception to December 2022. It yielded 39 case reports, 6 case series and 1 retrospective study which met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Based on the current literature, individuals with 22q11.2DS psychosis experience a greater rate of medical co-morbidities such as cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and movement disorders, which complicate pharmacotherapy. Poor tolerability rather than poor clinical response motivates the switching of antipsychotics, which may explain the labelling of treatment resistance in the literature. CONCLUSION There are insufficient data to recommend a single antipsychotic for 22q11.2DS psychosis. Nonetheless, with proactive management of co-morbidities, antipsychotic medication in 22q11.2DS psychosis is an effective treatment commonly resulting in improvement in quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Tanham
- Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Renee Chen
- Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicola Warren
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Metro South Addictions and Mental Health Service, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Helen Heussler
- Child Development Program, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James G Scott
- Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Child and Youth Mental Health, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Mancini V, Saleh MG, Delavari F, Bagautdinova J, Eliez S. Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance Underlies Hippocampal Atrophy in Individuals With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome With Psychotic Symptoms. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:569-579. [PMID: 37011759 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal neurotransmitter levels have been reported in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia, leading to a shift in the excitatory/inhibitory balance. However, it is unclear whether these alterations predate the onset of clinically relevant symptoms. Our aim was to explore in vivo measures of excitatory/inhibitory balance in 22q11.2 deletion carriers, a population at genetic risk for psychosis. METHODS Glx (glutamate+glutamine) and GABA+ (gamma-aminobutyric acid with macromolecules and homocarnosine) concentrations were estimated in the anterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal cortex, and hippocampus using the Mescher-Garwood point-resolved spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) sequence and the Gannet toolbox in 52 deletion carriers and 42 control participants. T1-weighted images were acquired longitudinally and processed with FreeSurfer version 6 to extract hippocampal volume. Subgroup analyses were conducted in deletion carriers with psychotic symptoms. RESULTS While no differences were found in the anterior cingulate cortex, deletion carriers had higher levels of Glx in the hippocampus and superior temporal cortex and lower levels of GABA+ in the hippocampus than control participants. We additionally found a higher Glx concentration in the hippocampus of deletion carriers with psychotic symptoms. Finally, more pronounced hippocampal atrophy was significantly associated with increased Glx levels in deletion carriers. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence for an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in temporal brain structures of deletion carriers, with a further hippocampal Glx increase in individuals with psychotic symptoms that was associated with hippocampal atrophy. These results are in line with theories proposing abnormally enhanced glutamate levels as a mechanistic explanation for hippocampal atrophy via excitotoxicity. Our results highlight a central role of glutamate in the hippocampus of individuals at genetic risk for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Mancini
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Muhammad G Saleh
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Farnaz Delavari
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joëlle Bagautdinova
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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Latrèche C, Maeder J, Mancini V, Bortolin K, Schneider M, Eliez S. Altered developmental trajectories of verbal learning skills in 22q11.2DS: associations with hippocampal development and psychosis. Psychol Med 2023; 53:4923-4932. [PMID: 35775360 PMCID: PMC10476015 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722001842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cognitive profile in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is often characterized by a discrepancy between nonverbal vs. verbal reasoning skills, in favor of the latter skills. This dissociation has also been observed in memory, with verbal learning skills described as a relative strength. Yet the development of these skills is still to be investigated. We thus aimed to explore verbal learning longitudinally. Furthermore, we explored verbal learning and its respective associations with hippocampal alterations and psychosis, which remain largely unknown despite their high prevalence in 22q11.2DS. METHODS In total, 332 individuals (173 with 22q11.2DS) aged 5-30 years completed a verbal-paired associates task. Mixed-models regression analyses were conducted to explore developmental trajectories with threefold objectives. First, verbal learning and retention trajectories were compared between 22q11.2DS vs. HC. Second, we examined hippocampal volume development in 22q11.2DS participants with lower vs. higher verbal learning performance. Third, we explored verbal learning trajectories in 22q11.2DS participants with vs. without positive psychotic symptoms and with vs. without a psychotic spectrum disorder (PSD). RESULTS Our findings first reveal lower verbal learning performance in 22q11.2DS, with a developmental plateau emerging from adolescence. Second, participants with lower verbal learning scores displayed a reduced left hippocampal tail volume. Third, participants with PSD showed a deterioration of verbal learning performance, independently of verbal reasoning skills. CONCLUSION Our study challenges the current view of preserved verbal learning skills in 22q11.2DS and highlights associations with specific hippocampal alterations. We further identify verbal learning as a novel cognitive marker for psychosis in 22q11.2DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Latrèche
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Maeder
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Mancini
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karin Bortolin
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Medical Image Processing Lab, Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ilen L, Feller C, Eliez S, Schneider M. Increased affective reactivity to daily social stressors is associated with more severe psychotic symptoms in youths with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1-12. [PMID: 36727503 PMCID: PMC10600937 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722004019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased reactivity to minor stressors is considered a risk factor for psychosis, especially in vulnerable individuals. In the present study, we investigated affective and psychotic stress reactivity as well as its link with psychotic symptoms and psychopathology in youths with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a neurogenetic condition associated with a high risk for psychosis. METHODS A 6-day ecological momentary assessment protocol was used to assess perceived daily-life stress as well as affective and psychotic reactivity to stress in participants with 22q11DS (n = 38, age = 18.4) and healthy controls (HC; n = 53, age = 19.1). Psychotic symptoms, general psychopathology, and coping strategies were also assessed through clinical interviews and questionnaires. RESULTS Participants with 22q11DS reported higher levels of perceived social stress (b = 0.21, p = 0.036) but lower levels of activity-related stress (b = -0.31, p = 0.003) in their daily lives compared to HC. The groups did not differ in affective or psychotic reactivity to stress, but individuals with 22q11DS who reported increased affective reactivity to social stressors showed more severe positive psychotic symptoms (rs = 0.505, p = 0.008). Finally, avoidance coping strategies moderated the association between stress and negative affects. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an increased vulnerability for daily social stress in youths with 22q11DS, and link elevated social stress reactivity to heightened psychotic symptom severity. Given the high risk for psychosis in 22q11DS, interventions should focus on reducing social stress and developing adaptive coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ilen
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clémence Feller
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Alver M, Mancini V, Läll K, Schneider M, Romano L, Mägi R, Dermitzakis ET, Eliez S, Reymond A; Estonian Biobank Research Team. Contribution of schizophrenia polygenic burden to longitudinal phenotypic variance in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4191-200. [PMID: 35768638 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01674-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While the recurrent 22q11.2 deletion is one of the strongest genetic risk factors for schizophrenia (SCZ), variability of its associated neuropsychiatric endophenotypes reflects its incomplete penetrance for psychosis development. To assess whether this phenotypic variability is linked to common variants associated with SCZ, we studied the association between SCZ polygenic risk score (PRS) and longitudinally acquired phenotypic information of the Swiss 22q11.2DS cohort (n = 97, 50% females, mean age 17.7 yr, mean visit interval 3.8 yr). The SCZ PRS with the best predictive performance was ascertained in the Estonian Biobank (n = 201,146) with LDpred. The infinitesimal SCZ PRS model showed the strongest capacity in discriminating SCZ cases from controls with one SD difference in SCZ PRS corresponding to an odds ratio (OR) of 1.73 (95% CI 1.57-1.90, P = 1.47 × 10-29). In 22q11.2 patients, random-effects ordinal regression modelling using longitudinal data showed SCZ PRS to have the strongest effect on social anhedonia (OR = 2.09, P = 0.0002), and occupational functioning (OR = 1.82, P = 0.0003) within the negative symptoms course, and dysphoric mood (OR = 2.00, P = 0.002) and stress intolerance (OR = 1.76, P = 0.0002) within the general symptoms course. Genetic liability for SCZ was additionally associated with full scale cognitive decline (β = -0.25, P = 0.02) and with longitudinal volumetric reduction of the right and left hippocampi (β = -0.28, P = 0.005; β = -0.23, P = 0.02, respectively). Our results indicate that the polygenic contribution to SCZ acts upon the threshold-lowering first hit (i.e., the deletion). It modifies the endophenotypes of 22q11.2DS and augments the derailment of developmental trajectories of negative and general symptoms, cognition, and hippocampal volume.
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Latrèche C, Maeder J, Mancini V, Schneider M, Eliez S. Effects of risperidone on psychotic symptoms and cognitive functions in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Results from a clinical trial. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:972420. [PMID: 36386982 PMCID: PMC9643534 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.972420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carriers of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) have an enhanced risk of developing psychotic disorders. Full-blown psychosis is typically diagnosed by late adolescence/adulthood. However, cognitive decline is already apparent as early as childhood. Recent findings in mice show that antipsychotic medication administered during adolescence has a long-lasting neuroprotective effect. These findings offer promising evidence for implementing preventive treatment in humans at risk for psychosis. METHODS We conducted a 12-week double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial with individuals with 22q11DS. Recruitment difficulties resulted in a final sample size of 13 participants (n = 6 treated with antipsychotics and n = 7 receiving placebo). We examined the response to treatment and assessed its short- and long-term effects on psychotic symptomatology using the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) and cognitive measures. RESULTS First, two treated participants discontinued treatment after experiencing adverse events. Second, treated participants showed a short-term improvement in 33.3% of the SIPS items, mainly those targeting negative symptoms. Third, reliable improvements in at least one measure of working memory and attention were respectively found in 83.3 and 66.7% of treated participants. CONCLUSION This is the first double-blind study to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of antipsychotics in humans at risk for psychosis. Our preliminary results suggest that antipsychotic treatment may prevent long-term deterioration in clinical symptoms and cognitive skills. Yet, given the limited sample size, our findings need to be replicated in larger samples. To do so, future studies may rather adopt open-label or retrospective designs to ensure sufficient power. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04639960].
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Latrèche
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Maeder
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Mancini
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Clinical Psychology Unit for Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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