The relationship between childhood trauma, psychotic symptoms, and cognitive schemas in patients with schizophrenia, their siblings, and healthy controls: results from the EU-GEI study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between childhood trauma (CT) and psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), and subthreshold psychotic experiences in non-clinical populations is well-established. However, little is known about the relationship between subtypes of trauma and specific symptoms in patients, their siblings, and controls. It is also not clear which variables mediate the relationship between trauma and psychotic symptoms.

METHODS

Seven hundred and forty-two patients with SCZ, 718 of their unaffected siblings and 1039 controls from three EU-GEI sites were assessed for CT, symptom severity, and cognitive schemas about self/others. CT was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and cognitive schemas were assessed by The Brief Core Schema Scale.

RESULTS

Patients with psychosis were affected by CT more than their siblings and controls in all domains. Childhood emotional abuse and neglect were more common in siblings than controls. CT was related to negative cognitive schemas toward self/others in patients, siblings, and controls. We found that negative schemas about self-mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and thought withdrawal and thought broadcasting. Approximately 33.9% of the variance in these symptoms was explained by the mediator. It also mediated the relationship between sexual abuse and persecutory delusions in SCZ.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that childhood abuse and neglect are more common in patients with schizophrenia than their siblings and healthy controls, and have different impacts on clinical domains which we searched. The relationship between CT and positive symptoms seems to be mediated by negative cognitive schemas about self in schizophrenia.

Examining the association between exposome score for schizophrenia and cognition in schizophrenia, siblings, and healthy controls: Results from the EUGEI study

BACKGROUND

People with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) frequently present cognitive impairments. Here, we investigated whether the exposome score for schizophrenia (ES-SCZ) - a cumulative environmental exposure score - was associated with impairments of neurocognition, social cognition, and perception in patients with SSD, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls.

METHODS

This cross-sectional sample consisted of 1200 patients, 1371 siblings, and 1564 healthy controls. Neurocognition, social cognition, and perception were assesed using a short version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III), the Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task (DFAR), and the Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFR), respectively. Regression models were used to analyze the association between ES-SCZ and cognitive domains in each group.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant associations between ES-SCZ and cognitive domains in SSD. ES-SCZ was negatively associated with T-score of cognition in siblings (B=-0.40, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.03) and healthy controls (B=-0.63, 95% CI -1.06 to -0.21). Additionally, ES-SCZ was positively associated with DFAR-total in siblings (B=0.83, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.40). Sensitivity analyses excluding cannabis use history from ES-SCZ largely confirmed the main findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal cohorts may elucidate how environmental exposures influence the onset and course of cognitive impairments in trans-syndromic psychosis spectrum.

A replication study of JTC bias, genetic liability for psychosis and delusional ideation

BACKGROUND

This study attempted to replicate whether a bias in probabilistic reasoning, or 'jumping to conclusions'(JTC) bias is associated with being a sibling of a patient with schizophrenia spectrum disorder; and if so, whether this association is contingent on subthreshold delusional ideation.

METHODS

Data were derived from the EUGEI project, a 25-centre, 15-country effort to study psychosis spectrum disorder. The current analyses included 1261 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 1282 siblings of patients and 1525 healthy comparison subjects, recruited in Spain (five centres), Turkey (three centres) and Serbia (one centre). The beads task was used to assess JTC bias. Lifetime experience of delusional ideation and hallucinatory experiences was assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences. General cognitive abilities were taken into account in the analyses.

RESULTS

JTC bias was positively associated not only with patient status but also with sibling status [adjusted relative risk (aRR) ratio : 4.23 CI 95% 3.46-5.17 for siblings and aRR: 5.07 CI 95% 4.13-6.23 for patients]. The association between JTC bias and sibling status was stronger in those with higher levels of delusional ideation (aRR interaction in siblings: 3.77 CI 95% 1.67-8.51, and in patients: 2.15 CI 95% 0.94-4.92). The association between JTC bias and sibling status was not stronger in those with higher levels of hallucinatory experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings replicate earlier findings that JTC bias is associated with familial liability for psychosis and that this is contingent on the degree of delusional ideation but not hallucinations.

Evidence, and replication thereof, that molecular-genetic and environmental risks for psychosis impact through an affective pathway

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that environmental and genetic risk factors for schizophrenia spectrum disorders are transdiagnostic and mediated in part through a generic pathway of affective dysregulation.

METHODS

We analysed to what degree the impact of schizophrenia polygenic risk (PRS-SZ) and childhood adversity (CA) on psychosis outcomes was contingent on co-presence of affective dysregulation, defined as significant depressive symptoms, in (i) NEMESIS-2 (n = 6646), a representative general population sample, interviewed four times over nine years and (ii) EUGEI (n = 4068) a sample of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, the siblings of these patients and controls.

RESULTS

The impact of PRS-SZ on psychosis showed significant dependence on co-presence of affective dysregulation in NEMESIS-2 [relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI): 1.01, p = 0.037] and in EUGEI (RERI = 3.39, p = 0.048). This was particularly evident for delusional ideation (NEMESIS-2: RERI = 1.74, p = 0.003; EUGEI: RERI = 4.16, p = 0.019) and not for hallucinatory experiences (NEMESIS-2: RERI = 0.65, p = 0.284; EUGEI: -0.37, p = 0.547). A similar and stronger pattern of results was evident for CA (RERI delusions and hallucinations: NEMESIS-2: 3.02, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 6.44, p < 0.001; RERI delusional ideation: NEMESIS-2: 3.79, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 5.43, p = 0.001; RERI hallucinatory experiences: NEMESIS-2: 2.46, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 0.54, p = 0.465).

CONCLUSIONS

The results, and internal replication, suggest that the effects of known genetic and non-genetic risk factors for psychosis are mediated in part through an affective pathway, from which early states of delusional meaning may arise.

Examining facial emotion recognition as an intermediate phenotype for psychosis: Findings from the EUGEI study

BACKGROUND

Social cognition impairments, such as facial emotion recognition (FER), have been acknowledged since the earliest description of schizophrenia. Here, we tested FER as an intermediate phenotype for psychosis using two approaches that are indicators of genetic risk for schizophrenia: the proxy-genetic risk approach (family design) and the polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ).

METHODS

The sample comprised 2039 individuals with schizophrenia, 2141 siblings, and 2049 healthy controls (HC). The Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task (DFAR) was applied to measure the FER accuracy. Schizotypal traits in siblings and HC were assessed using the Structured Interview for Schizotypy-Revised (SIS-R). The PRS-SCZ was trained using the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium results. Regression models were applied to test the association of DFAR with psychosis risk, SIS-R, and PRS-SCZ.

RESULTS

The DFAR-total scores were lower in individuals with schizophrenia than in siblings (RR = 0.97 [95% CI 0.97, 0.97]), who scored lower than HC (RR = 0.99 [95% CI 0.99-1.00]). The DFAR-total scores were negatively associated with SIS-R total scores in siblings (B = -2.04 [95% CI -3.72, -0.36]) and HC (B = -2.93 [95% CI -5.50, -0.36]). Different patterns of association were observed for individual emotions. No significant associations were found between DFAR scores and PRS-SCZ.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings based on a proxy genetic risk approach suggest that FER deficits may represent an intermediate phenotype for schizophrenia. However, a significant association between FER and PRS-SCZ was not found. In the future, genetic mechanisms underlying FER phenotypes should be investigated trans-diagnostically.

Cognitive functioning throughout adulthood and illness stages in individuals with psychotic disorders and their unaffected siblings

Important questions remain about the profile of cognitive impairment in psychotic disorders across adulthood and illness stages. The age-associated profile of familial impairments also remains unclear, as well as the effect of factors, such as symptoms, functioning, and medication. Using cross-sectional data from the EU-GEI and GROUP studies, comprising 8455 participants aged 18 to 65, we examined cognitive functioning across adulthood in patients with psychotic disorders (n = 2883), and their unaffected siblings (n = 2271), compared to controls (n = 3301). An abbreviated WAIS-III measured verbal knowledge, working memory, visuospatial processing, processing speed, and IQ. Patients showed medium to large deficits across all functions (ES range = -0.45 to -0.73, p < 0.001), while siblings showed small deficits on IQ, verbal knowledge, and working memory (ES = -0.14 to -0.33, p < 0.001). Magnitude of impairment was not associated with participant age, such that the size of impairment in older and younger patients did not significantly differ. However, first-episode patients performed worse than prodromal patients (ES range = -0.88 to -0.60, p < 0.001). Adjusting for cannabis use, symptom severity, and global functioning attenuated impairments in siblings, while deficits in patients remained statistically significant, albeit reduced by half (ES range = -0.13 to -0.38, p < 0.01). Antipsychotic medication also accounted for around half of the impairment in patients (ES range = -0.21 to -0.43, p < 0.01). Deficits in verbal knowledge, and working memory may specifically index familial, i.e., shared genetic and/or shared environmental, liability for psychotic disorders. Nevertheless, potentially modifiable illness-related factors account for a significant portion of the cognitive impairment in psychotic disorders.

Examining the association between exposome score for schizophrenia and functioning in schizophrenia, siblings, and healthy controls: Results from the EUGEI study

Background

A cumulative environmental exposure score for schizophrenia (exposome score for schizophrenia [ES-SCZ]) may provide potential utility for risk stratification and outcome prediction. Here, we investigated whether ES-SCZ was associated with functioning in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, unaffected siblings, and healthy controls.

Methods

This cross-sectional sample consisted of 1,261 patients, 1,282 unaffected siblings, and 1,525 healthy controls. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was used to assess functioning. ES-SCZ was calculated based on our previously validated method. The association between ES-SCZ and the GAF dimensions (symptom and disability) was analyzed by applying regression models in each group (patients, siblings, and controls). Additional models included polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ) as a covariate.

Results

ES-SCZ was associated with the GAF dimensions in patients (symptom: B = −1.53, p-value = 0.001; disability: B = −1.44, p-value = 0.001), siblings (symptom: B = −3.07, p-value < 0.001; disability: B = −2.52, p-value < 0.001), and healthy controls (symptom: B = −1.50, p-value < 0.001; disability: B = −1.31, p-value < 0.001). The results remained the same after adjusting for PRS-SCZ. The degree of associations of ES-SCZ with both symptom and disability dimensions were higher in unaffected siblings than in patients and controls. By analyzing an independent dataset (the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis study), we replicated the results observed in the patient group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that ES-SCZ shows promise for enhancing risk prediction and stratification in research practice. From a clinical perspective, ES-SCZ may aid in efforts of clinical characterization, operationalizing transdiagnostic clinical staging models, and personalizing clinical management.

Replicated evidence that endophenotypic expression of schizophrenia polygenic risk is greater in healthy siblings of patients compared to controls, suggesting gene-environment interaction. The EUGEI study

BACKGROUND

First-degree relatives of patients with psychotic disorder have higher levels of polygenic risk (PRS) for schizophrenia and higher levels of intermediate phenotypes.

METHODS

We conducted, using two different samples for discovery (n = 336 controls and 649 siblings of patients with psychotic disorder) and replication (n = 1208 controls and 1106 siblings), an analysis of association between PRS on the one hand and psychopathological and cognitive intermediate phenotypes of schizophrenia on the other in a sample at average genetic risk (healthy controls) and a sample at higher than average risk (healthy siblings of patients). Two subthreshold psychosis phenotypes, as well as a standardised measure of cognitive ability, based on a short version of the WAIS-III short form, were used. In addition, a measure of jumping to conclusion bias (replication sample only) was tested for association with PRS.

RESULTS

In both discovery and replication sample, evidence for an association between PRS and subthreshold psychosis phenotypes was observed in the relatives of patients, whereas in the controls no association was observed. Jumping to conclusion bias was similarly only associated with PRS in the sibling group. Cognitive ability was weakly negatively and non-significantly associated with PRS in both the sibling and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of endophenotypic expression of schizophrenia polygenic risk depends on having a sibling with psychotic disorder, suggestive of underlying gene-environment interaction. Cognitive biases may better index genetic risk of disorder than traditional measures of neurocognition, which instead may reflect the population distribution of cognitive ability impacting the prognosis of psychotic disorder.

Estimating Exposome Score for Schizophrenia Using Predictive Modeling Approach in Two Independent Samples: The Results From the EUGEI Study

Exposures constitute a dense network of the environment: exposome. Here, we argue for embracing the exposome paradigm to investigate the sum of nongenetic "risk" and show how predictive modeling approaches can be used to construct an exposome score (ES; an aggregated score of exposures) for schizophrenia. The training dataset consisted of patients with schizophrenia and controls, whereas the independent validation dataset consisted of patients, their unaffected siblings, and controls. Binary exposures were cannabis use, hearing impairment, winter birth, bullying, and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse along with physical and emotional neglect. We applied logistic regression (LR), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and Ridge penalized classification models to the training dataset. ESs, the sum of weighted exposures based on coefficients from each model, were calculated in the validation dataset. In addition, we estimated ES based on meta-analyses and a simple sum score of exposures. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic, and Nagelkerke's R2 were compared. The ESMeta-analyses performed the worst, whereas the sum score and the ESGNB were worse than the ESLR that performed similar to the ESLASSO and ESRIDGE. The ESLR distinguished patients from controls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.94, P < .001), patients from siblings (OR = 1.58, P < .001), and siblings from controls (OR = 1.21, P = .001). An increase in ESLR was associated with a gradient increase of schizophrenia risk. In reference to the remaining fractions, the ESLR at top 30%, 20%, and 10% of the control distribution yielded ORs of 3.72, 3.74, and 4.77, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that predictive modeling approaches can be harnessed to evaluate the exposome.

Examining the independent and joint effects of molecular genetic liability and environmental exposures in schizophrenia: results from the EUGEI study

Schizophrenia is a heritable complex phenotype associated with a background risk involving multiple common genetic variants of small effect and a multitude of environmental exposures. Early twin and family studies using proxy-genetic liability measures suggest gene-environment interaction in the etiology of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the molecular evidence is scarce. Here, by analyzing the main and joint associations of polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ) and environmental exposures in 1,699 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 1,542 unrelated controls with no lifetime history of a diagnosis of those disorders, we provide further evidence for gene-environment interaction in schizophrenia. Evidence was found for additive interaction of molecular genetic risk state for schizophrenia (binary mode of PRS-SCZ above 75% of the control distribution) with the presence of lifetime regular cannabis use and exposure to early-life adversities (sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and bullying), but not with the presence of hearing impairment, season of birth (winter birth), and exposure to physical abuse or physical neglect in childhood. The sensitivity analyses replacing the a priori PRS-SCZ at 75% with alternative cut-points (50% and 25%) confirmed the additive interaction. Our results suggest that the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia involves genetic underpinnings that act by making individuals more sensitive to the effects of some environmental exposures.

White Noise Speech Illusions: A Trait-Dependent Risk Marker for Psychotic Disorder?

Introduction: White noise speech illusions index liability for psychotic disorder in case-control comparisons. In the current study, we examined i) the rate of white noise speech illusions in siblings of patients with psychotic disorder and ii) to what degree this rate would be contingent on exposure to known environmental risk factors (childhood adversity and recent life events) and level of known endophenotypic dimensions of psychotic disorder [psychotic experiences assessed with the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) scale and cognitive ability]. Methods: The white noise task was used as an experimental paradigm to elicit and measure speech illusions in 1,014 patients with psychotic disorders, 1,157 siblings, and 1,507 healthy participants. We examined associations between speech illusions and increasing familial risk (control -> sibling -> patient), modeled as both a linear and a categorical effect, and associations between speech illusions and level of childhood adversities and life events as well as with CAPE scores and cognitive ability scores. Results: While a positive association was found between white noise speech illusions across hypothesized increasing levels of familial risk (controls -> siblings -> patients) [odds ratio (OR) linear 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.21, p = 0.019], there was no evidence for a categorical association with sibling status (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.79-1.09, p = 0.360). The association between speech illusions and linear familial risk was greater if scores on the CAPE positive scale were higher (p interaction = 0.003; OR_{low CAPE positive scale} 0.96, 95% CI 0.85-1.07; OR_{high CAPE positive scale} 1.26, 95% CI 1.09-1.46); cognitive ability was lower (p interaction < 0.001; OR_{high cognitive ability} 0.94, 95% CI 0.84-1.05; OR_{low cognitive ability} 1.43, 95% CI 1.23-1.68); and exposure to childhood adversity was higher (p interaction < 0.001; OR_{low adversity} 0.92, 95% CI 0.82-1.04; OR_{high adversity} 1.31, 95% CI 1.13-1.52). A similar, although less marked, pattern was seen for categorical patient-control and sibling-control comparisons. Exposure to recent life events did not modify the association between white noise and familial risk (p interaction = 0.232). Conclusion: The association between white noise speech illusions and familial risk is contingent on additional evidence of endophenotypic expression and of exposure to childhood adversity. Therefore, speech illusions may represent a trait-dependent risk marker.

[Workplace Mobbing as a Psychosocial Stress and Its Relationship to General Psychopathology and Psychotic Experiences Among Working Women in a University Hospital]

OBJECTIVE

Mobbing at work has become an alarming phenomenon worldwide. The prevalence of mobbing among women is higher than among men. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of mobbing as a psychosocial stress in the workplace with general psychopathology and psychotic experiences among women.

METHOD

428 women from the Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylul University were included in the study. Of the 428 women, 139 were doctors, 190 were nurses, and 99 were sub-contracted employees. Stratified and cluster sampling METHODS were used. Sociodemographic data form, mobbing scale and symptom checklist (SCL-90-R) were used in order to collect the data.

RESULTS

304 (71%) of the participants had experienced mobbing at least once. It was determined that nurses had experienced mobbing more frequently than doctors and sub-contracted employee. Total and subscale scores of the mobbing scale were statistically higher in participants who went to psychiatry outpatient clinics and who use psychiatric medication and alcohol. There was a positive statistically significant correlation between SCL-90-R and mobbing scale scores. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.56. The highest correlation was between the paranoid sub-scale of SCL-90-R and mobbing (r= 0.56) CONCLUSION: Generally, exposure to mobbing seems to be related with higher psychopathology. Also, according to our research results, mobbing is a psychosocial stress source that might be triggering subthreshold psychotic experiences.

[The Validity and Reliability Study of the Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Index (DEZİKÖ) in Patients with Schizophrenia]

OBJECTIVE

Although a lack of a comprehensive theory of mind (ToM) index has been indicated frequently in studies of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, there is no valid and reliable index to assess ToM, which represents the ability to attribute mental states to other people. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and reliability of the "Dokuz Eylul Theory of Mind Index" (DEZIKÖ) in healthy volunteers and in patients with schizophrenia, which is the first Turkish-language ToM index, developed using examples in the ToM literature.

METHOD

The study sample consisted of a total of 286 participants, including 89 patients with schizophrenia who had been diagnosed by DSM-IV and 197 healthy volunteers. Sociodemographic data form and DEZIKÖ were administered to all participants. Empathic Skill Index-B Form (EBÖ-B) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were administered to the patients.

RESULTS

In healthy volunteers, internal consistency coefficient of DEZIKÖ was 0.64; inter-rater reliability was 0.99 (p<0.0001) and testretest reliability was 0.90 (p<0.01). The patient group had a positive significant correlation between DEZIKÖ and EBÖ-B (r=0.43, p<0.05). Furthermore, it was shown that healthy volunteers and patients with schizophrenia can be distinguished by using DEZIKÖ (t(285)=8.74, p<0.01). The results of factor analysis with principal components analysis in the healthy volunteer group verified that DEZIKÖ has 3 factor groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that DEZIKÖ, the first ToM index in the Turkish language, has acceptable validity and reliability values in healthy volunteers and in patients with schizophrenia.

Is the Ultimate Treatment Response Predictable with Early Response in Major Depressive Episode?

INTRODUCTION

New evidence suggests that the efficacy of antidepressants occurs within the first weeks of treatment and this early response predicts the later response. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if the partial response in the first week predicts the response at the end of treatment in patients with major depressive disorder who are treated with either antidepressant medication or electroconvulsive therapy.

METHODS

Inpatients from Dokuz Eylül University Hospital with a major depressive episode, treated with antidepressant medication (n=52) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (n=48), were recruited for the study. The data were retrospectively collected to decide whether a 25% decrease in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score at the first week of treatment predicts a 50% decrease at the third week using validity analysis. In addition, the effects of socio-demographic and clinical variables on the treatment response were assessed.

RESULTS

A 25% decrease in the HDRS score in the first week of treatment predicted a 50% decrease in the HDRS score in the third week with a 78.3% positive predictive value, 62.1% negative predictive value, 62.1% sensitivity, and 78.3% specificity for antidepressant medications and an 88% positive predictive value, 52.2% negative predictive value, 66.7% sensitivity, and 80% specificity for ECT. The number of previous hospitalizations, comorbid medical illnesses, number of depressive episodes, duration of illness, and duration of the current episode were related to the treatment response.

CONCLUSION

Treatment response in the first week predicted the response in the third week with a high specificity and a high positive predictive value. Close monitoring of the response from the first week of treatment may thus help the clinician to predict the subsequent response.

[Psychotic Experiences in the Adaptation Process to a New Social Environment]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between psychotic experiences (PEs) and social stress and discrimination during adaptation to a new social context.

METHOD

First-term university students (n: 164) were screened to determine if they had had any PEs, social adaptation-related stress, and/or perceived discrimination in the prior six months. The positive dimension of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) was used to define PEs. Social relations and discrimination in the students' new social contexts (both narrow (i.e., their class) and wider (i.e., urban environment) were screened with relevant questionnaires regarding social capital and discrimination. Responders were classified as either the "High CAPE" group (first and second quartiles; n: 82) or the "Low CAPE" group (third and fourth quartiles; n: 82), which was used as the baseline/control group. Analyses included associations between these two groups and social stress, discrimination, and demographic/non-demographic variables. Results were re-analyzed after excluding irregular students and regrouping with the first and fourth quartiles in CAPE.

RESULTS

High CAPE scores were associated with perceived discrimination in narrow and wider social environments (adjusted 0,08; 95% CI: 0,01-0,11), and with adaptation-related stress in narrow social environment (adjusted 0,02; 95% CI: 0,01-0,05). In addition, high CAPE scores were associated with smoking and lower maternal educational level. Associations were stronger when the data was re-analyzed based on the first and fourth quartiles. However, associations between discrimination, social stress, and high CAPE scores were attenuated after exclusion of irregular students.

CONCLUSION

Adaptation-related social stress and perceived discrimination in a new social context may increase the risk of PEs. This particular association seems to be more prominent in groups with higher social stress (e.g., those with academic failure or high perceived discrimination).

Relation of formal thought disorder to symptomatic remission and social functioning in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the relation of formal thought disorder (FTD) with symptomatic remission (SR) and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD

The study was carried out with a sample consisting of 117 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV. The patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Thought and Language Index (TLI), and the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). We used logistic regression in order to determine the relation between FTD and SR and linear regression to identify the strength of association between FTD and social functioning.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis revealed that poverty of speech (odds ratio: 1.47, p<0.01) and peculiar logic (odds ratio: 1.66, p=0.01) differentiated the remitted patients from the non-remitted ones. Linear regression analysis showed that the PSP total score was associated with poverty of speech and peculiar logic items of the TLI (B=-0.23, p<0.01, B=-0.24, p=0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that poverty of speech and peculiar logic are the specific domains of FTD which are related to both SR status and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Formal thought disorder in first-episode psychosis

Formal thought disorder (FTD) is one of the fundamental symptom clusters of schizophrenia and it was found to be the strongest predictor determining conversion from first-episode acute transient psychotic disorder to schizophrenia. Our goal in the present study was to compare a first-episode psychosis (FEP) sample to a healthy control group in relation to subtypes of FTD. Fifty six patients aged between 15 and 45years with FEP and forty five control subjects were included in the study. All the patients were under medication for less than six weeks or drug-naive. FTD was assessed using the Thought and Language Index (TLI), which is composed of impoverishment of thought and disorganization of thought subscales. FEP patients showed significantly higher scores on the items of poverty of speech, weakening of goal, perseveration, looseness, peculiar word use, peculiar sentence construction and peculiar logic compared to controls. Poverty of speech, perseveration and peculiar word use were the significant factors differentiating FEP patients from controls when controlling for years of education, family history of psychosis and drug abuse.

Cognitive dysfunctions in first episode pychosis

Cognitive dysfunctions are one of the main domains of symptom clusters in schizophrenia that are strongly related to poor prognosis and psychosocial impairment. We conducted a study to investigate the level of cognitive functions in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) and effect of psychosocial factors related to psychosis and cognitive dysfunctions in this population. We included 60 FEP patients and 60 healthy control subjects. Cognitive functions of the study population were evaluated by using neuropsychological test battery including Stroop, Rey Verbal Learning and Memory, Digit Span, Trail Making, Digit Symbols, Controlled Word Association etc. Psychosocial risk factors were assessed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Social Environment Measurement Tool, Life Events Scale, Tobacco Alcohol Use Scale and Substance/Marijuana Use Scale. Cognitive functions were significantly impaired in FEP patients compared to normal controls. Patients had poor performance in verbal memory, attention, processing speed, working memory and executive functions that is similar to the previous literature findings. Stressful life events in the last year and familial liability of schizophrenia and psychosis in 1st degree relatives were strong predictors to develop psychosis in patients with FEP. Both factors also seemed to be related to cognitive dysfunctions. In this study, patients with stressful life events in the last year were likely to have memory and executive dysfunctions. It has been shown that psychosocial risk factors had played an important role in developing psychosis. However, these factors also may negatively affect cognitive functions that may make the patient predispose to develop psychosis in FEP patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Admission-Based Prevalence of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder and Bipolar I Disorder in a Catchment Area in Sinop, Turkey

OBJECTIVE

To provide registry-based prevalence estimates of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and bipolar I (BPI) disorders in a defined area of Sinop, Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All patients that presented to primary and secondary health services over three year time (2009-2011) with diagnosis of psychotic disorder (F06.1, F06.2, F10.5, F12.5, F19.5, F20-29, F30-31, F32.3, F33.3, F39 in ICD-10) covering a population of 73,503 aged 15-64 were included via case registry systems. All accessed case records were pooled. Case ascertainment and diagnostic assessment were achieved through structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, phone interview, or farming a best-estimated diagnosis via records on registers.

RESULTS

Registries provided 1,410 probable cases. The successful clinical reappraisal rate was 66.8% (n: 955) while, the final diagnoses were determined via phone interview or best-estimate diagnosis in the rest of the cases. Seven hundred twenty seven individuals were diagnosed with DSM-IV yielding a prevalence of 9.8 per 1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.2-11.5). Registry-based prevalence of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, BPI disorder, and depression with psychotic features were 3.6 (95% CI: 3.0-4.2), 1.1 (95% CI: 0.8-1.4), 2.7 (95% CI: 2.0-3.3), and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.6-1.3) per 1,000, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Ten individuals per 1,000 adult persons admit for any disorder with psychotic symptoms. Registry-based prevalence estimates are lower than the lifetime prevalence estimates. However, analyses of administrative data appear to provide information needed for effectively plan and implement psychiatric services.

The epidemiology of major depressive disorder and subthreshold depression in Izmir, Turkey: Prevalence, socioeconomic differences, impairment and help-seeking

BACKGROUND

Subclinical and clinical depression is common, widely distributed in the general population, and usually associated with role impairment and help-seeking. Reliable information at the population level is needed to estimate the disease burden of depression and associated care needs in Turkey.

METHOD

The cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of subthreshold (SubD) and clinical major depressive disorder (MDD) in Izmir, Turkey. In the 5242 eligible households, a total of 4011 individuals were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 76.5%. Prevalence estimates of MDD and SubD depression were formed by using the responses to the questions of the CIDI section E. Short Form 36 (SF-36) to assess health status and functional impairments in eight scaled scores during the last four weeks. All respondents were questioned about receiving 12-month treatment for any psychological complaints, the route of help-seeking, as well as prescribed medicines and any hospitalization.

RESULTS

The one year prevalence estimate for CIDI/DSM IV MDD was 8.2% (95% CI, 7.4-9.1). Less educated, low income, uninsured, low SES, unemployed/disabled and housewives, slum area residents had higher one year MDD prevalence. Determined prevalence of help seeking from mental health services of SubD and MDD cases were 23.6%, 30.6% respectively. Only 24.8% of clinically depressive patients received minimally adequate treatment.

LIMITATIONS

Cross sectional design.

CONCLUSION

Higher MDD prevalence correlates with younger ages, female gender, unemployment, less education, lower monthly income, lower SES and uninsurance. Help seeking from mental health services were low. There are treatment gap and impairment in depressive group.

Identifying gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia: contemporary challenges for integrated, large-scale investigations

Recent years have seen considerable progress in epidemiological and molecular genetic research into environmental and genetic factors in schizophrenia, but methodological uncertainties remain with regard to validating environmental exposures, and the population risk conferred by individual molecular genetic variants is small. There are now also a limited number of studies that have investigated molecular genetic candidate gene-environment interactions (G × E), however, so far, thorough replication of findings is rare and G × E research still faces several conceptual and methodological challenges. In this article, we aim to review these recent developments and illustrate how integrated, large-scale investigations may overcome contemporary challenges in G × E research, drawing on the example of a large, international, multi-center study into the identification and translational application of G × E in schizophrenia. While such investigations are now well underway, new challenges emerge for G × E research from late-breaking evidence that genetic variation and environmental exposures are, to a significant degree, shared across a range of psychiatric disorders, with potential overlap in phenotype.

Psychiatric epidemiology in Turkey: main advances in recent studies and future directions

OBJECTIVE

To overview and evaluate the main findings, methodological shortcomings, and time trends of the recent psychiatric epidemiology studies in Turkey, as well as to provide areas prone for development in forthcoming research.

METHOD

PubMed and Turkish Psychiatry Index were screened to identify relevant studies. Any epidemiological study from 2000 to 2012 with a general population or unique sub-population sample was included. Papers and results were classified as depression, anxiety, psychotic, dissociative, conversion, personality, alcohol and substance abuse, and trauma-related disorders, and common geriatric disorders.

RESULTS

There are various epidemiological studies on various psychiatric disorders in Turkey. However, there are main shortcomings and trends in research that subsequently stagnate current psychiatric epidemiological research. First, epidemiological studies were mainly conducted for academic purposes, not for addressing epidemiological issues or issues of health policy. Second, studies mainly focused on particular fields and institutions, which led to non-systematic accumulation of epidemiological results. Third, although Turkey is a natural laboratory of social conflicts and disasters, there were few studies with a focus on probable outcomes. Fourth, high-quality epidemiological studies with disseminating results tended to decrease, even in common mental disorders such as depression. Fifth, there were very few epidemiological studies using contemporary designs such as follow-up, genetic, or biomarker data in the general-population.

CONCLUSION

Although psychiatric epidemiological studies of the last decade provide a suitable ground for future challenges, current trends in this research area has tended to stagnate, despite the potential for unique contributions. Forthcoming studies and researchers may notice novel methodological developments in epidemiology, with a growing attention on rapid urbanization, natural disasters, social conflicts, and migration.

[Psychotic disorders among immigrants from Turkey in Western Europe: An overview of incidences, prevalence estimates, and admission rates]

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of incidence and prevalence estimates, admission rates, and related features of psychotic disorders among immigrants from Turkey in Western Europe.

METHOD

Articles published in all languages between 1990 and 2010 were included. In order to detect relevant studies, a string ([schizo* OR psych*] AND [Turk*] AND [migra* OR immigra*]) was used in MEDLINE and PsychINFO. Turkish indexes and abstracts books of national congresses were also screened to locate additional papers.

RESULTS

We included 21 studies which yielded 25 rates on psychotic disorders among immigrants from Turkey. Fifteen papers reported rates for the immigrants from Turkey in The Netherlands, four for Germany, one for Denmark and one for Switzerland. The incidence estimates of non-affective and affective psychosis among immigrants from Turkey were between 38.5 and 44.9 per 100,000 while incidence estimates of schizophrenia were between 12.4 and 63.8 per 100,000. The prevalence estimates of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders were between 1.1 and 6.2 per 1,000. Rates and relative risks of psychotic disorders in immigrants from Turkey tended to be higher than the natives and lower than other immigrant groups with similar sociocultural background. In addition to other risk factors, social contextual factors including discrimination and neighbourhood characteristics were the key environmental factors that modulate rates of psychotic disorders among immigrants from Turkey. Males were under a higher risk of incidence, prevalence estimates, and admission rates.

CONCLUSION

Variations in rates and relative risks indicate a possible etiological role of social experiences in immigrants. Studies with a focus on comparing the rates and the social factors of psychotic disorders between immigrants from Turkey in Western Europe and their family members residing in Turkey may provide additional insight into the epidemiology of psychotic disorders.

Treatment-induced manic switch in the course of unipolar depression can predict bipolarity: cluster analysis based evidence

BACKGROUND

Antidepressants are known to induce manic switch in patients with depression. Treatment-induced mania is not considered as bipolar disorder in DSM IV. The aim of this study was to assess whether clinical characteristics of patients with unipolar depression with a history of treatment-induced mania were similar to those of patients with bipolar disorder.

METHOD

The study included 217 consecutive patients with DSM-IV mood disorders, diagnosed as: bipolar disorder type I (BP-I, n = 58) or type II (BP-II, n = 18) whose first episodes were depression, recurrent (unipolar) major depressive disorder with a history of antidepressant treatment-induced mania (switchers = sUD; n = 61) and without such an event (rUD; n = 80). First, the groups were compared with regard to clinical features and course specifiers using variance and chi-square analysis. Variables that differed significantly between the four groups were included in two-step cluster analysis to explore naturally occurring subgroups in all diagnoses. Subsequently, the relationship between the naturally occurring clusters and pre-defined DSM-IV diagnoses were investigated.

RESULTS

Two-step cluster analysis revealed two different naturally occurring groups. Higher severity of depressive episodes, with higher rate of melancholic features, higher number of hospitalization and suicide attempts were represented in one cluster where switchers (77%), bipolar I (94.8%) and II (83.3%) patients clustered together.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study confirm that treatment-induced mania is a clinical phenomenon that belongs within the bipolar spectrum rather than a coincidental treatment complication, and that it should be placed under "bipolar disorders" in future classification systems.

LIMITATIONS

The study includes the limitations of any naturalistic retrospective study.

Legal Aspects of Gender Reassignment Surgery in Turkey

The gender reassignment process has ethical, social and legal dimensions. However, European Union countries have recommended certain principles for such reassignment. The lack of special legislation regulating legal conditions and effects of gender reassignment creates a difficult situation for transsexuals. A new civil law was implemented in 2001 in Turkey recognising gender identity reassignment which has set new standards for procedures. According to the law, court permission is compulsory for gender reassignment surgery. Courts require expert analyses in a health council report which must include a psychiatric examination of the individual, who must also be permanently unreproductive as defined by the law. Although the new Civil Law arranges new standards for gender reassignment surgery procedures, there are several problems in reassigning the civil status of transsexuals in Turkey.

[The psychosis epidemiology in Turkey: a systematic review on prevalence estimates and admission rates]

OBJECTIVE

To provide prevalence estimate, admission rates and related features of psychotic disorders in Turkey.

METHOD

Studies with data on prevalence and/or rates in outpatient or inpatient admissions after 1990 were included. Strings of ([schizo*OR psych*] AND Turkey) were used in PubMed and PsychINFO to detect relevant studies. Turkish Medical and Psychiatry indexes were screened with Turkish keywords. Abstract books of national congresses, national index of thesis, and references of the included papers were searched for additional data. Results were presented as prevalence per 1000 and median values of admission rates.

RESULTS

A total of 56 studies were included, including 8 cross-sectional (4 core and 4 special group), 27 outpatient and 21 inpatient admission estimates or rates. The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia in general population (pooled data, n: 6022) was 8.9 per 1000 (Standard error [SE]: 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.6-11.3). Psychosis prevalence is higher in subgroups including university students, prisoners and homeless people. Patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder constituted 7.6% and 26.9% of adult outpatient and inpatient psychiatry admissions. However, median rates vary depending on institutional, regional, temporal and residential features. Male gender was at higher risk in all kinds of estimates and rates for all age groups.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of schizophrenia in Turkey is higher than the formerly reported estimates in different countries. Higher prevalence may be a consequence of sample properties, environmental risk exposures, and study design. However more research is needed to further elaborate the relatively higher prevalence. Nevertheless, a major part of the psychiatry services are devoted to psychotic outpatients and inpatients.

Impact of panic attacks on quality of life among patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Schizophrenia patients had decreased levels of quality of life compared to normal population. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of panic attacks on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

Eighty-eight patients with schizophrenia and 85 healthy subjects were included in the study. World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref) was given to patients and healthy subjects to assess quality of life. Panic module of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) was administered to patients for diagnosis of panic attacks and panic disorder. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptom severity and Calgary Depression Scale (CDS) for depressive symptoms were administered to the patients.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly lower scores compared to healthy controls in all domains of WHOQOL-Bref. Twenty-five patients (28.4%) with schizophrenia had panic attacks (PA) and 10 patients (11.4%) met criteria for panic disorder (PD). Schizophrenia patients with PA had significantly lower scores on psychological domain of WHOQOL-Bref compared to the patients without PA. Schizophrenic patients with panic attacks had higher CDS scores than patients without PA. In the multivariate regression analyses the variance in psychological domain of WHOQOL-Bref was explained by depression rather than panic attack.

CONCLUSION

In patients with schizophrenia comorbid panic attacks may have a negative impact on quality of life, which is associated with depression significantly. Panic attacks and depressive symptomatology must be examined comprehensively in order to improve quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.

[Attitudes and behaviors of psychiatry residents and psychiatrists working in training institutes towards the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the attitudes and behaviors of psychiatrists and psychiatry residents towards pharmaceutical representatives and their promotional activities, and to evaluate the effect of the duration of residency and type of the training institution on these attitudes and behaviors.

METHOD

A validated questionnaire for assessing the attitudes and behaviors of physicians towards the pharmaceutical industry was administered to psychiatrists and psychiatry residents at regional meetings. Of the 1973 participants, 348 responded.

RESULTS

Although there was significant interaction between psychiatrists and pharmaceutical representatives, 50.7% of psychiatrists reported that they thought these interactions had no impact on their prescribing practices. First- and second-year residents agreed more than the other residents and the specialist that pharmaceutical representatives provided accurate information and had no effect on physician prescribing practices. First- and second-years residents agreed less than older residents that pharmaceutical representatives used marketing techniques. The psychiatrists regarded most of the pharmaceutical promotions as appropriate. State hospital staff agreed more than the university hospital staff that the pharmaceutical industry should support educational meetings in their institutions.

CONCLUSION

There was intense interaction (3/4)characterized by undefined boundaries (3/4)between psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical industry. Most physicians were not provided any guidelines concerning their interactions with pharmaceutical representatives and there was general concern about the necessity of restricting these interactions.

[Financial conflict of interest in clinical psychiatry studies: a review]

Pharmaceutical industry revenues from global pharmaceutical sales have increased 7% to $602 billion in 2005. Approximately 15% of these revenues were spent on clinical research and drug development studies. Because of the huge budget allocated to research and development studies the number of studies being conducted by pharmaceutical companies has increased. The impact of the pharmaceutical industry on clinical trials has been affected by financial conflicts of interest between researchers and the industry. Conflict of interest refers to a situation in which it appears that a researcher's personal financial interest could significantly affect the design, conduct, and/or reporting of such research. Financial conflict of interest has been reported to be frequent in clinical trials in general medicine. It is estimated that 89%-98% of comparative drug treatment studies are funded by pharmaceutical companies. It was reported that favorable outcomes for the firms conducting these studies were significantly more common in industry-funded studies than in non-industry funded ones. These biased outcomes were due to conscious or unconscious decisions about the design, data analysis, and publishing of the studies. Biased outcomes of industry-funded studies have diminished the integrity of academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and scientific journals; therefore, various precautions have been taken in order to reduce the effect of conflict of interest on study outcomes. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of conflict of interest on outcomes in clinical psychiatry studies.

[Aging and schizophrenia: the relation of age to clinical symptoms and cognitive functions in schizophrenia]

OBJECTIVE

The course of clinical symptoms and cognitive functions with aging in schizophrenia is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on psychopathological symptoms and cognitive functions in schizophrenia.

METHOD

Forty-one patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy subjects as a control group were included in the study. The relation of age to the severity of the symptoms and the cognitive functions were investigated in patients with schizophrenia. The age related variations in cognitive functions among patients and healthy subjects were analyzed by separating each group into young (18-34 years) and older (35-60 years) age groups.

RESULTS

There was a negative correlation between age and positive scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Age was negatively correlated to the Digit Span Test in patients with schizophrenia and the Rey Verbal Learning and Memory Test and Controlled Word Association Test in healthy subjects. There was a significant age related difference between the two groups in the Controlled Word Association Test.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study revealed that age had an influence on attention but not on any other domains in patients with schizophrenia, and on verbal learning-memory and verbal fluency in the control group. This might show a cognitive impairment that does not significantly change with aging in schizophrenia. This study also demonstrated an improvement in positive symptoms with aging.