Normative Modeling of Brain Morphometry in Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Importance

The lack of robust neuroanatomical markers of psychosis risk has been traditionally attributed to heterogeneity. A complementary hypothesis is that variation in neuroanatomical measures in individuals at psychosis risk may be nested within the range observed in healthy individuals.

Objective

To quantify deviations from the normative range of neuroanatomical variation in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and evaluate their overlap with healthy variation and their association with positive symptoms, cognition, and conversion to a psychotic disorder.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This case-control study used clinical-, IQ-, and neuroimaging software (FreeSurfer)-derived regional measures of cortical thickness (CT), cortical surface area (SA), and subcortical volume (SV) from 1340 individuals with CHR-P and 1237 healthy individuals pooled from 29 international sites participating in the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics Through Meta-analysis (ENIGMA) Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group. Healthy individuals and individuals with CHR-P were matched on age and sex within each recruitment site. Data were analyzed between September 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

For each regional morphometric measure, deviation scores were computed as z scores indexing the degree of deviation from their normative means from a healthy reference population. Average deviation scores (ADS) were also calculated for regional CT, SA, and SV measures and globally across all measures. Regression analyses quantified the association of deviation scores with clinical severity and cognition, and 2-proportion z tests identified case-control differences in the proportion of individuals with infranormal (z < -1.96) or supranormal (z > 1.96) scores.

Results

Among 1340 individuals with CHR-P, 709 (52.91%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 20.75 (4.74) years. Among 1237 healthy individuals, 684 (55.30%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 22.32 (4.95) years. Individuals with CHR-P and healthy individuals overlapped in the distributions of the observed values, regional z scores, and all ADS values. For any given region, the proportion of individuals with CHR-P who had infranormal or supranormal values was low (up to 153 individuals [<11.42%]) and similar to that of healthy individuals (<115 individuals [<9.30%]). Individuals with CHR-P who converted to a psychotic disorder had a higher percentage of infranormal values in temporal regions compared with those who did not convert (7.01% vs 1.38%) and healthy individuals (5.10% vs 0.89%). In the CHR-P group, only the ADS SA was associated with positive symptoms (β = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.02; P = .02 for false discovery rate) and IQ (β = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.15; P = .02 for false discovery rate).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this case-control study, findings suggest that macroscale neuromorphometric measures may not provide an adequate explanation of psychosis risk.

Brief rapport: Perceptual aberration in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis

BACKGROUND

Ultra-high risk (UHR) is considered a forerunner of psychosis, but most UHR individuals do not later convert, yet remain symptomatic, disabled and help-seeking. Thus, there is an increased recognition of the UHR phenotype as a syndrome in itself, rather than merely a risk syndrome. It is therefore essential to investigate outcomes other than transition to psychosis. For this purpose, perceptual aberration appears to be a distinct, as well as a stable and less state-specific vulnerability indicator. We aimed to investigate perceptual aberration and associations with functional, neuro and social cognitive risk factors in an UHR sample.

METHOD

One hundred and twenty UHR and 64 healthy controls were compared on levels of perceptual aberration using the perceptual aberration scale. We further investigated cross-sectional associations between perceptual aberration and CAARMS (as a measure of subthreshold psychotic symptoms) and functional, neuro and social cognitive risk factors within the UHR using Spearmans ρ.

RESULTS

Perceptual aberration was significantly higher in UHR than in healthy controls and was associated with social functioning, executive functioning, and emotion recognition.

CONCLUSION

Our findings are consistent with a view of perceptual aberration as a stable vulnerability indicator that varies little with clinical state.

Associations between saliva alpha-amylase, heart rate variability, saliva cortisol and cognitive performance in individuals at ultra high-risk for psychosis

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairments are present in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis and UHR individuals exhibit a hyperactive and dysfunctional HPA-axis. Increasing stress levels could potentially lead to cognitive impairments and no previous studies have examined the association between physiological stress biomarkers and cognition in UHR individuals. This study aims to examine the association between saliva alpha amylase (SAA), heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cortisol, and cognition in UHR individuals.

METHOD

We included 72 UHR individuals, aged 18-40, fulfilling criteria of the comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental state (CAARMS). Cognitive tests indexed the 7 core domains as stated by Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS). Physiological stress levels were observed for one day: saliva was collected at awakening, 30 min and 60 min after awakening and at bedtime. HRV was measured during sleep and before awakening. We used generalized linear model and controlled for multiple testing using false discovery rate (FDR).

RESULTS

Higher levels of SAA were significantly associated with lower cognitive performance in the domains of verbal and visual learning and memory, sustained attention, working memory and global neurocognition looking at unadjusted data. Controlling for FDR visual memory, sustained attention and global neurocognition remained significant associated with SAA. We discovered no associations between cortisol and cognition.

CONCLUSION

Visual learning and memory, sustained attention and global neurocognition remained significantly associated with SAA. This finding supports our hypothesis that an association between abnormal stress biomarkers and impaired cognition might be present in UHR individuals.

A longitudinal study on physiological stress in individuals at ultra high-risk of psychosis

INTRODUCTION

Individuals at ultra high-risk (UHR) of psychosis exhibit significantly higher stress levels than healthy controls (HC). This study investigates how physiological stress measures differ between HC and UHR individuals and how physiological stress is associated with attenuated psychotic symptoms and changes over time in UHR individuals. Additionally, it examines how the use of medication affects physiological levels of stress.

METHOD

The study included 72 UHR individuals and 36 HC. UHR were included according to the comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental state (CAARMS); a total-CAARMS score measured the attenuated psychotic symptoms and was calculated from the four psychosis subscales. HC and UHR were examined at baseline, and 47 UHR individuals were followed up after six months. Physiological stress measures were salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase (SAA) and heart-rate variability (HRV). Saliva was collected at four-time points during the day.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference regarding cortisol (awakening response) or SAA measures between HC and UHR individuals. The use of antipsychotics and antidepressants was associated with low HRV in UHR individuals. In an exploratory analysis of 19 UHR individuals, we found an association between the change in total-CAARMS (six months total-CAARMS minus baseline total CAARMS) and the change in HRV during sleep (six months HRV minus baseline HRV).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants could be associated with lower HRV in UHR individuals. There might be potential to investigate how HRV develops during the course of illness in UHR individuals.

Normative modeling of brain morphometry in Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis

Importance

The lack of robust neuroanatomical markers of psychosis risk has been traditionally attributed to heterogeneity. A complementary hypothesis is that variation in neuroanatomical measures in the majority of individuals at psychosis risk may be nested within the range observed in healthy individuals.

Objective

To quantify deviations from the normative range of neuroanatomical variation in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and evaluate their overlap with healthy variation and their association with positive symptoms, cognition, and conversion to a psychotic disorder.

Design Setting and Participants

Clinical, IQ and FreeSurfer-derived regional measures of cortical thickness (CT), cortical surface area (SA), and subcortical volume (SV) from 1,340 CHR-P individuals [47.09% female; mean age: 20.75 (4.74) years] and 1,237 healthy individuals [44.70% female; mean age: 22.32 (4.95) years] from 29 international sites participating in the ENIGMA Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group.

Main Outcomes and Measures

For each regional morphometric measure, z-scores were computed that index the degree of deviation from the normative means of that measure in a healthy reference population (N=37,407). Average deviation scores (ADS) for CT, SA, SV, and globally across all measures (G) were generated by averaging the respective regional z-scores. Regression analyses were used to quantify the association of deviation scores with clinical severity and cognition and two-proportion z-tests to identify case-control differences in the proportion of individuals with infranormal (z<-1.96) or supranormal (z>1.96) scores.

Results

CHR-P and healthy individuals overlapped in the distributions of the observed values, regional z-scores, and all ADS vales. The proportion of CHR-P individuals with infranormal or supranormal values in any metric was low (<12%) and similar to that of healthy individuals. CHR-P individuals who converted to psychosis compared to those who did not convert had a higher percentage of infranormal values in temporal regions (5-7% vs 0.9-1.4%). In the CHR-P group, only the ADSSA showed significant but weak associations (|β|<0.09; PFDR<0.05) with positive symptoms and IQ.

Conclusions and Relevance

The study findings challenge the usefulness of macroscale neuromorphometric measures as diagnostic biomarkers of psychosis risk and suggest that such measures do not provide an adequate explanation for psychosis risk.

Changes in negative symptoms are linked to white matter changes in superior longitudinal fasciculus in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

AIM

Growing evidence suggests that subtle white matter (WM) alterations are associated with psychopathology in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR). However, the longitudinal relationship between symptom progression and WM changes over time remains under-explored. Here, we examine associations between changes in clinical symptoms and changes in WM over six months in a large UHR-cohort.

METHODS

110 UHR-individuals and 59 healthy controls underwent diffusion weighted imaging at baseline and after six months. Group × time effects on fractional anisotropy (FA) were tested globally and in four predefined regions of interest (ROIs) bilaterally using linear modelling with repeated measures. Correlations between the changes in clinical symptoms and FA changes in the ROIs were examined with Pearson's correlation. A partial least squares correlation-technique (PLS-C) explored multivariate associations between patterns of changes in psychopathology, regional FA and additional WM indices.

RESULTS

At baseline, UHR-individuals displayed significantly lower FA globally (p = 0.018; F = 12.274), in right superior longitudinal fasciculus (p = 0.02; Adj R² = 0.07) and in left uncinate fasciculus (p = 0.048; Adj R² = 0.058) compared to controls (corrected). We identified a group × time interaction in global FA and right superior longitudinal fasciculus, but the finding did not survive multiple comparisons. However, an increase of negative symptoms in UHR-individuals correlated with FA increase in right superior longitudinal fasciculus (p = 0.048, corrected, r = 0.357), and this finding was supported by the multivariate PLS-C.

CONCLUSION

We found a positive correlation with a moderate effect between change in negative symptoms and FA change over 6 months in right superior longitudinal fasciculus. This link appeared mainly to reflect a subgroup of UHR-individuals, which already at baseline presented as vulnerable.

Global fractional anisotropy predicts transition to psychosis after 12 months in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

OBJECTIVE

Psychosis spectrum disorders are associated with cerebral changes, but the prognostic value and clinical utility of these findings are unclear. Here, we applied a multivariate statistical model to examine the predictive accuracy of global white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) for transition to psychosis in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR).

METHODS

110 UHR individuals underwent 3 Tesla diffusion-weighted imaging and clinical assessments at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months. Using logistic regression, we examined the reliability of global FA at baseline as a predictor for psychosis transition after 12 months. We tested the predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of global FA in a multivariate prediction model accounting for potential confounders to FA (head motion in scanner, age, gender, antipsychotic medication, parental socioeconomic status and activity level). In secondary analyses, we tested FA as a predictor of clinical symptoms and functional level using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

Ten UHR individuals had transitioned to psychosis after 12 months (9%). The model reliably predicted transition at 12 months (χ²  = 17.595, p = 0.040), accounted for 15-33% of the variance in transition outcome with a sensitivity of 0.70, a specificity of 0.88 and AUC of 0.87. Global FA predicted level of UHR symptoms (R²  = 0.055, F = 6.084, p = 0.016) and functional level (R²  = 0.040, F = 4.57, p = 0.036) at 6 months, but not at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Global FA provided prognostic information on clinical outcome and symptom course of UHR individuals. Our findings suggest that the application of prediction models including neuroimaging data can inform clinical management on risk for psychosis transition.

Association of Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures With Psychosis Onset in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Developing Psychosis: An ENIGMA Working Group Mega-analysis

Importance

The ENIGMA clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis initiative, the largest pooled neuroimaging sample of individuals at CHR to date, aims to discover robust neurobiological markers of psychosis risk.

Objective

To investigate baseline structural neuroimaging differences between individuals at CHR and healthy controls as well as between participants at CHR who later developed a psychotic disorder (CHR-PS+) and those who did not (CHR-PS-).

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this case-control study, baseline T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were pooled from 31 international sites participating in the ENIGMA Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group. CHR status was assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States or Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes. MRI scans were processed using harmonized protocols and analyzed within a mega-analysis and meta-analysis framework from January to October 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Measures of regional cortical thickness (CT), surface area, and subcortical volumes were extracted from T1-weighted MRI scans. Independent variables were group (CHR group vs control group) and conversion status (CHR-PS+ group vs CHR-PS- group vs control group).

Results

Of the 3169 included participants, 1428 (45.1%) were female, and the mean (SD; range) age was 21.1 (4.9; 9.5-39.9) years. This study included 1792 individuals at CHR and 1377 healthy controls. Using longitudinal clinical information, 253 in the CHR-PS+ group, 1234 in the CHR-PS- group, and 305 at CHR without follow-up data were identified. Compared with healthy controls, individuals at CHR exhibited widespread lower CT measures (mean [range] Cohen d = -0.13 [-0.17 to -0.09]), but not surface area or subcortical volume. Lower CT measures in the fusiform, superior temporal, and paracentral regions were associated with psychosis conversion (mean Cohen d = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.35 to 0.10). Among healthy controls, compared with those in the CHR-PS+ group, age showed a stronger negative association with left fusiform CT measures (F = 9.8; P < .001; q < .001) and left paracentral CT measures (F = 5.9; P = .005; q = .02). Effect sizes representing lower CT associated with psychosis conversion resembled patterns of CT differences observed in ENIGMA studies of schizophrenia (ρ = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.55; P = .004) and individuals with 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome and a psychotic disorder diagnosis (ρ = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.61; P = .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study provides evidence for widespread subtle, lower CT measures in individuals at CHR. The pattern of CT measure differences in those in the CHR-PS+ group was similar to those reported in other large-scale investigations of psychosis. Additionally, a subset of these regions displayed abnormal age associations. Widespread disruptions in CT coupled with abnormal age associations in those at CHR may point to disruptions in postnatal brain developmental processes.

Predictors of remission from the ultra-high risk state for psychosis

AIM

A significant proportion of individuals at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) for psychosis do not transition to manifest psychosis. Many non-transitioning UHR individuals do, however, display poor long-term outcomes such as persistence of attenuated psychotic symptoms. Evidence is scarce on which variables may predict a better clinical and functional prognosis such as remission from the UHR state.

METHODS

A total of 146 UHR individuals were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (RCT), with this being analyses secondary to the RCT. Participants were assessed on multiple domains of symptoms, functioning, neuro- and social cognition. Regression analyses elucidated on the predictive power of these measures to remission from the UHR status (ie, not meeting UHR criteria) at 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 91 UHR individuals attending 12-month follow-up, 33 (36%) exhibited remission from the UHR state. Regression analyses revealed baseline functioning to be a significant predictor of risk remission, and this was maintained when controlling for the effect of antipsychotic medication, gender and estimated IQ. The individuals with remission from the UHR state showed lower attenuated psychotic- and depressive symptoms along with better functioning at 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate functioning to be a contributor to the symptomatic recovery of UHR individuals, but a large amount of the variance on risk remission is, however, explained by other factors. Additionally, our findings suggest that UHR individuals with better functioning at ascertainment may present with a better clinical and functional prognosis, which may inform on the need for monitoring and intervention in this subgroup.

Self-perceived cognitive impairments in psychosis ultra-high risk individuals: associations with objective cognitive deficits and functioning

There is a scarcity of evidence on subjectively reported cognitive difficulties in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis and whether these self-perceived cognitive difficulties may relate to objective cognitive deficits, psychopathology, functioning, and adherence to cognitive remediation (CR). Secondary, exploratory analyses to a randomized, clinical trial were conducted with 52 UHR individuals receiving a CR intervention. Participants completed the Measure of Insight into Cognition—Self Report (MIC-SR), a measure of daily life cognitive difficulties within the domains of attention, memory, and executive functions along with measures of neuropsychological test performance, psychopathology, functioning, and quality of life. Our study found participants with and without objectively defined cognitive deficits reported self-perceived cognitive deficits of the same magnitude. No significant relationship was revealed between self-perceived and objectively measured neurocognitive deficits. Self-perceived cognitive deficits associated with attenuated psychotic symptoms, overall functioning, and quality of life, but not with adherence to, or neurocognitive benefits from, a CR intervention. Our findings indicate that UHR individuals may overestimate their cognitive difficulties, and higher levels of self-perceived cognitive deficits may relate to poor functioning. If replicated, this warrants a need for both subjective and objective cognitive assessment in at-risk populations as this may guide psychoeducational approaches and pro-functional interventions. Self-perceived cognitive impairments do not seem to directly influence CR adherence and outcome in UHR states. Further studies are needed on potential mediator between self-perceived cognitive deficits and functioning and quality of life.

Cognitive remediation plus standard treatment versus standard treatment alone for individuals at ultra-high risk of developing psychosis: Results of the FOCUS randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis have significant cognitive deficits that can impede functional recovery. Applying cognitive remediation (CR) before the onset of frank psychosis may improve the cognitive and functional prognosis of UHR individuals, however, little is known about the feasibility and efficacy of CR for this population.

METHODS

In this randomised, clinical trial 146 individuals at UHR for psychosis aged 18-40 years were randomly assigned to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus cognitive remediation. The CR targeted neurocognitive and social cognitive remediation. Assessments were carried out at 6- and 12-months post baseline.

RESULTS

A total of 73 UHR individuals were assigned to TAU and 73 assigned to TAU + cognitive remediation. Compared to the control group, cognitive remediation did not result in significant improvement on the primary outcome; the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia composite score at 6-month follow-up (b = -0.125, 95%CI: -0.23 to 0.172, p = 0.41). Nor did the intervention improve secondary outcomes in clinical symptoms or functioning. Exploratory analyses found emotion recognition latencies to be significantly more reduced in the intervention group at 6-months. At 12-months, the intervention group exhibited significantly better performance on two measures of executive function and visual memory.

CONCLUSION

The 20-session treatment protocol was not well received in the UHR group, and unsurprisingly global measures did not improve. The benefit found in isolated neuro- and social cognitive measures after even a few sessions points to a potential for cognitive malleability if people can be engaged sufficiently to practice the skills. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT02098408.

No Effects of Cognitive Remediation on Cerebral White Matter in Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis-A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) present with subtle alterations in cerebral white matter (WM), which appear to be associated with clinical and functional outcome. The effect of cognitive remediation on WM organization in UHR individuals has not been investigated previously.

METHODS

In a randomized, clinical trial, UHR individuals aged 18 to 40 years were assigned to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus cognitive remediation for 20 weeks. Cognitive remediation comprised 20 x 2-h sessions of neurocognitive and social-cognitive training. Primary outcome was whole brain fractional anisotropy derived from diffusion weighted imaging, statistically tested as an interaction between timepoint and treatment group. Secondary outcomes were restricted to five predefined region of interest (ROI) analyses on fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity. For significant timepoint and treatment group interactions within these five ROIs, we explored associations between longitudinal changes in WM and cognitive functions/clinical symptoms. Finally, we explored dose-response effects of cognitive remediation on WM.

RESULTS

A total of 111 UHR individuals were included. Attrition-rate was 26%. The cognitive remediation group completed on average 12 h of neurocognitive training, which was considerably lower than per protocol. We found no effect of cognitive remediation on whole-brain FA when compared to treatment as usual. Secondary ROI analyses revealed a nominal significant interaction between timepoint*treatment of AD in left medial lemniscus (P=0.016) which did not survive control for multiple comparisons. The exploratory test showed that this change in AD correlated to improvements of mental flexibility in the cognitive remediation group (p=0.001). We found no dose-response effect of neurocognitive training on WM.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive remediation comprising 12 h of neurocognitive training on average did not improve global or regional WM organization in UHR individuals. Further investigations of duration and intensity of cognitive training as necessary prerequisites of neuroplasticity-based changes are warranted.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02098408.

Baseline measures of cerebral glutamate and GABA levels in individuals at ultrahigh risk for psychosis: Implications for clinical outcome after 12 months

Background.

Cerebral glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels might predict clinical outcome in individuals at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis but have previously primarily been investigated in smaller cohorts. We aimed to study whether baseline levels of glutamate and GABA in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and glutamate in thalamus could predict remission status and whether baseline metabolites differed in the remission versus the nonremission group. We also investigated the relationship between baseline metabolite levels and severity of clinical symptoms, functional outcome, and cognitive deficits at follow-up.

Methods.

About 124 UHR individuals were recruited at baseline. In this, 74 UHR individuals were clinically and cognitively assessed after 12 months, while remission status was available for 81 (25 remission/56 nonremission). Glutamate and GABA levels were assessed at baseline using 3 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Psychopathology, symptom severity, and remission were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States and Clinical Global Impression and functional outcome with the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale. Cognitive function was estimated with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery.

Results.

There were no differences between baseline glutamate and GABA levels in subjects in the nonremission group compared with the remission group, and baseline metabolites could not predict remission status. However, higher baseline levels of GABA in ACC were associated with clinical global improvement (r = −0.34, N = 51, p = 0.01) in an explorative analysis.

Conclusions.

The variety in findings across studies suggests a probable multifactorial influence on clinical outcome in UHR individuals. Future studies should combine multimodal approaches to attempt prediction of long-term outcome.

Experiential negative symptoms are more predictive of real-life functional outcome than expressive negative symptoms in clinical high-risk states

BACKGROUND

Negative symptoms are key features of psychosis-spectrum disorders linked to psychosis development and functional impairments. This study investigated the predictive strength of negative symptoms domains on multiple aspects of real-life functional outcome in individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis.

METHODS

A total of 146 UHR individuals were enrolled in a randomized, clinical trial (RCT), with this being analyses secondary to the RCT. The participants were assessed at baseline with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) encompassing the four domains of affect, alogia, avolition, and anhedonia. Functioning measures, encompassing overall-, social-, and role functioning, self-report social functioning, and quality of life, were obtained at 12-month follow-up. Regression analyses elucidated on the relationship between the four negative symptom domains and functional outcomes.

RESULTS

Anhedonia and avolition were the aspects of negative symptoms most predictive of real-life functioning at 12-month follow-up explaining 7-20% of the variance on the outcome measures. Alogia was predictive of social functioning. These findings were maintained when controlling for the effect of neurocognition, antipsychotic medication, and depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Our findings show experiential negative symptoms to predict multiple areas of real-life functioning and quality of life, while expressive negative symptoms exert a modest influence on the functional prognosis of CHR individuals. Experiential negative symptoms may therefore constitute an important treatment target in intervention approaches aimed at enhancing the functional outcome of CHR individuals.

Basic symptoms influence real-life functioning and symptoms in individuals at high risk for psychosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate potential clinical differences in high-risk profiles presenting with and without basic symptoms, and additionally investigate the association between basic symptoms and clinical symptoms, functioning, and cognition.

METHODS

High-risk individuals (n = 133) were stratified into individuals fulfilling ultra-high-risk (UHR) criteria (n = 59) and individuals fulfilling UHR+ basic symptoms criteria (BS) (n = 74). Group differences were assessed on clinical symptoms, real-life functioning, and cognition. Regression analyses were conducted to elucidate on the relationship between BS and clinical symptoms, functioning, neurocognition, and social cognition.

RESULTS

The group fulfilling both UHR+ BS criteria had significantly more symptoms and lower real-life functioning and quality of life but not more cognitive deficits. BS influenced on attenuated psychotic, depressive, and general symptoms, but only modestly on negative symptoms. No relationship between BS and neuro- and social cognition was established except for an association with emotion recognition processing speed. BS influenced real-life functioning, and this finding was sustained when controlling for the effect of negative symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that BS contribute highly to the distress and symptom load of clinical high-risk individuals. Longitudinal findings are needed to establish the predictive validity of BS on high-risk individuals' clinical and functional prognosis.

Cerebral Glutamate and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Levels in Individuals at Ultra-high Risk for Psychosis and the Association With Clinical Symptoms and Cognition

BACKGROUND

Studies examining glutamate or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) and the association with pathophysiology and cognition have shown conflicting results. We aimed to determine whether perturbed glutamate and GABA levels in the anterior cingulate cortex and glutamate levels in the left thalamus were present in UHR individuals and to investigate associations between metabolite levels and clinical symptoms and cognition.

METHODS

We included 122 UHR individuals and 60 healthy control subjects. Participants underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to estimate glutamate and GABA levels and undertook clinical and cognitive assessments.

RESULTS

We found no differences in metabolite levels between UHR individuals and healthy control subjects. In UHR individuals, we found negative correlations in the anterior cingulate cortex between the composite of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) and the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States composite score (p = .04) and between GABA and alogia (p = .01); positive associations in the anterior cingulate cortex between glutamate (p = .01) and Glx (p = .01) and spatial working memory and between glutamate (p = .04), Glx (p = .04), and GABA (p = .02) and set-shifting; and a positive association in the thalamus between glutamate and attention (p = .04). No associations between metabolites and clinical or cognitive scores were found in the healthy control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

An association between glutamate and GABA levels and clinical symptoms and cognition found only in UHR individuals suggests a loss of the normal relationship between metabolite levels and cognitive function. Longitudinal studies with investigation of clinical and cognitive outcome and the association with baseline levels of glutamate and GABA could illuminate whether glutamatergic and GABAergic dysfunction predicts clinical outcome.

Cerebral glutamate and GABA levels in high-risk of psychosis states: A focused review and meta-analysis of 1H-MRS studies

Disturbances in the brain glutamate and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) homeostasis may be markers of transition to psychosis in individuals at high-risk (HR). Knowledge of GABA and glutamate levels in HR stages could give an insight into changes in the neurochemistry underlying psychosis. Studies on glutamate in HR have provided conflicting data, and GABA studies have only recently been initialized. In this meta-analysis, we compared cerebral levels of glutamate and GABA in HR individuals with healthy controls (HC). We searched Medline and Embase for articles published on ¹H-MRS studies on glutamate and GABA in HR states until April 9th, 2019. We identified a total of 28 eligible studies, of which eight reported GABA (243 HR, 356 HC) and 26 reported glutamate (299 HR, 279 HC) or Glx (glutamate + glutamine) (584 HR, 632 HC) levels. Sample sizes varied from 6 to 75 for HR and 10 to 184 for HC. Our meta-analysis of ¹H-MRS studies on glutamate and GABA in HR states displayed significantly lower (P = 0.0003) levels of thalamic glutamate in HR individuals than in HC and significantly higher (P = 0.001) Glx in the frontal lobe of genetic HR individuals (1st-degree relatives) than in HC. No other significant differences in glutamate and GABA levels were found. Subject numbers in the studies on glutamate as well as GABA levels were generally small and the data conflicting. Our meta-analytical findings highlight the need for larger and more homogeneous studies of glutamate and GABA in high-risk states.

Supplementary data for a focused review and meta-analysis of 1H-MRS studies on cerebral glutamate and GABA levels in high-risk of psychosis states

Data (attached) for a focused review and meta-analysis of cerebral levels of glutamate, Glx, and GABA levels assessed with ¹H-MRS in high-risk of psychosis states was collected and stored at covidence.org and extracted to The Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager software package (RevMan Version 5.3) for meta-analytical purposes. Meta-analyses were performed with a random-effects, inverse-variance weighted model to calculate the pooled effect size. Heterogeneity was measured using the I² value. Significance was assessed using two-sided 95% confidence intervals. Potential publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots.

Supplementary to the co-submitted article are comprehensive meta-analyses of glutamate, Glx, and GABA, as well as the PRISMA flow diagram of included studies and a list of studies included in the review along with available measures and methodological variables.

The attached data offers an insight into the included studies and the specified metabolite values for each study and offers possible further investigation for other researchers, as well as an insight into the review and meta-analyses performed. The supplementary material also serves to support findings and interpretations in the main article.

Widespread higher fractional anisotropy associates to better cognitive functions in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

In schizophrenia patients, cognitive functions appear linked to widespread alterations in cerebral white matter microstructure. Here we examine patterns of associations between regional white matter and cognitive functions in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. One hundred and sixteen individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis and 49 matched healthy controls underwent 3 T magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and cognitive assessments. Group differences on fractional anisotropy were tested using tract-based spatial statistics. Group differences in cognitive functions, voxel-wise as well as regional fractional anisotropy were tested using univariate general linear modeling. Multivariate partial least squares correlation analyses tested for associations between patterns of regional fractional anisotropy and cognitive functions. Univariate analyses revealed significant impairments on cognitive functions and lower fractional anisotropy in superior longitudinal fasciculus and cingulate gyrus in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Partial least squares correlation analysis revealed different associations between patterns of regional fractional anisotropy and cognitive functions in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis compared to healthy controls. Widespread higher fractional anisotropy was associated with better cognitive functioning for individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis, but not for the healthy controls. Furthermore, patterns of cognitive functions were associated with an interaction-effect on regional fractional anisotropy in fornix, medial lemniscus, uncinate fasciculus, and superior cerebellar peduncle. Aberrant associations between patterns of cognitive functions to white matter may be explained by dysmyelination.

Negative symptoms mediate the relationship between neurocognition and function in individuals at ultrahigh risk for psychosis

OBJECTIVE

Neurocognition is known to impact functioning in individuals at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis, but studies investigating potential mediators of this relationship are scarce. Building on evidence from schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the study tested whether negative symptoms and social skills act as mediators between neurocognition and functional outcome in UHR individuals.

METHODS

Ultrahigh risk participants (N = 84) underwent neurocognitive testing using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Social skills and negative symptoms were assessed using the High-Risk Social Challenge task and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms respectively. Four instruments were used to assess overall functioning, and one instrument assessed quality of life encompassing social functioning.

RESULTS

The cross-sectional analyses revealed that neurocognition was related to the measures of functioning. Negative symptoms mediated the relationship between neurocognition and four of the five measures of functioning. We did not find social skills to mediate between neurocognition and functioning.

CONCLUSION

Negative symptoms appear to mediate the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome in UHR individuals, but the finding needs to be confirmed and extended to longitudinal studies. This underscores the importance of focusing on both neurocognition and negative symptoms when aiming at improving the functional outcome of UHR individuals.

EFFECTIVENESS OF DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY VERSUS COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDALITY TREATMENT FOR REDUCTION OF SELF-HARM IN ADULTS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND DISORDER-A RANDOMIZED OBSERVER-BLINDED CLINICAL TRIAL

BACKGROUND

Many psychological treatments have shown effect on reducing self-harm in adults with borderline personality disorder. There is a need of brief psychotherapeutical treatment alternative for suicide prevention in specialized outpatient clinics.

METHODS/DESIGN

The DiaS trial was designed as a pragmatic single-center, two-armed, parallel-group observer-blinded, randomized clinical superiority trial. The participants had at least two criteria from the borderline personality disorder diagnosis and a recent suicide attempt (within a month). The participants were offered 16 weeks of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) versus up to 16 weeks of collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS) treatment. The primary composite outcome was the number of participants with a new self-harm (nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI] or suicide attempt) at week 28 from baseline. Other exploratory outcomes were: severity of borderline symptoms, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, suicide ideation, and self-esteem.

RESULTS

At 28 weeks, the number of participants with new self-harm in the DBT group was 21 of 57 (36.8%) versus 12 of 51 (23.5%) in the CAMS treatment (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 0.80-4.40; P = .14). When assessing the effect of DBT versus CAMS treatment on the individual components of the primary outcome, we observed no significant differences in the number of NSSI (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 0.70-3.90; P = .31) or number of attempted suicides (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 0.80-7.50; P = .12).

CONCLUSION

In adults with borderline personality traits and disorder and a recent suicide attempt, DBT does not seem superior compared with CAMS for reduction of number of self-harm or suicide attempts. However, further randomized clinical trials may be needed.

The FOCUS trial: cognitive remediation plus standard treatment versus standard treatment for patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

Cognitive deficits are a distinct feature among people at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis and pose a barrier to functional recovery. Insufficient evidence exists on how to ameliorate these cognitive deficits in patients at UHR for psychosis and hence improve daily living and quality of life. The aim of the trial is to investigate whether cognitive remediation can improve cognitive and psychosocial function in patients at UHR for psychosis.

Methods

The FOCUS trial (Function and Overall Cognition in Ultra-high risk States) is a randomised, parallel group, observer-blinded clinical trial enrolling 126 patients meeting the standardised criteria of being at UHR for psychosis. Patients are recruited from psychiatric in- and outpatient facilities in the Copenhagen catchment area. Patients are randomised to one of the two treatment arms: cognitive remediation plus standard treatment versus standard treatment. The cognitive remediation consists of 24 weekly group-based and manualised sessions targeting neurocognition and social cognition. In addition to the group sessions, the patients will be offered 12 individual sessions aiming at maximising the transfer of the effects of the cognitive training to their everyday lives. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcome is the composite score on the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia at cessation of treatment after 6 months. Secondary outcomes are social and daily functioning, psychosis-like symptoms, negative symptomatology, and depressive symptomatology as measured with the Personal and Social Performance Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Expanded Version, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.

Discussion

This is the first trial to evaluate the effects of neurocognitive and social cognitive remediation in UHR patients. The FOCUS trial results will provide evidence on the effect of targeted and comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation on cognition, daily living, and symptomatology as well as long-term outcome in preventing transition to psychosis in UHR patients.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02098408. Date of registration 18 March 2014.