BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is associated with an increased risk of aggressive behaviour, which may partly be explained by illness-related changes in brain structure. However, previous studies have been limited by group-level analyses, small and selective samples of inpatients and long time lags between exposure and outcome. METHODS: This cross-sectional study pooled data from 20 sites participating in the international ENIGMA-Schizophrenia Working Group. Sites acquired T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans in a total of 2095 patients with schizophrenia and 2861 healthy controls. Measures of grey matter volume and white matter microstructural integrity were extracted from the scans using harmonised protocols. For each measure, normative modelling was used to calculate how much patients deviated (in z-scores) from healthy controls at the individual level. Ordinal regression models were used to estimate the associations of these deviations with concurrent aggressive behaviour (as odds ratios [ORs] with 99% confidence intervals [CIs]). Mediation analyses were performed for positive symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations and disorganised thinking), impulse control and illness insight. Aggression and potential mediators were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms or Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. RESULTS: Aggressive behaviour was significantly associated with reductions in total cortical volume (OR [99% CI] = 0.88 [0.78, 0.98], p = .003) and global white matter integrity (OR [99% CI] = 0.72 [0.59, 0.88], p = 3.50 × 10-5) and additional reductions in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume (OR [99% CI] = 0.85 [0.74, 0.97], p =.002), inferior parietal lobule volume (OR [99% CI] = 0.76 [0.66, 0.87], p = 2.20 × 10-7) and internal capsule integrity (OR [99% CI] = 0.76 [0.63, 0.92], p = 2.90 × 10-4). Except for inferior parietal lobule volume, these associations were largely mediated by increased severity of positive symptoms and reduced impulse control. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the co-occurrence of positive symptoms, poor impulse control and aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia has a neurobiological basis, which may inform the development of therapeutic interventions.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• preprinty MeSH

The aim of this pilot study was to find whether the dysregulation of neuroendocrine biomarker signaling pathways in the first episode of non-affective psychosis is a predictive factor of treatment outcome. Patients with the first episode of non-affective psychosis (N = 29) were examined at admission, at discharge, and at follow-up (N = 23). The biomarkers included serum aldosterone, cortisol, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, and prolactin. We revealed lower baseline aldosterone and higher baseline cortisol concentrations in patients with very good outcome compared to those with good outcome after one year. We failed to reveal any significant association between treatment outcome and neurohumoral biomarkers in the whole sample at 1-year follow-up. However, baseline aldosterone concentrations negatively correlated with total PANSS scores at the discharge. Lower baseline aldosterone and higher baseline cortisol concentrations have the potential to predict a more favorable outcome for patients with the first episode of psychosis.

• Klíčová slova
• Aldosterone, Cortisol, Non-affective psychosis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Subjective cognitive deficits have been broadly reported in schizophrenia and described by Huber as basic symptoms. It remains unclear however to what extent they may be related to psychosocial stressors including trauma. METHODS: We assessed basic symptoms using the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ) in a sample of 40 patients with schizophrenia. Trauma-related symptoms were assessed concurrently using the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40, symptoms of dissociation using the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and sensitization phenomena using the Complex Partial Seizure-like Symptoms Inventory and Limbic System Checklist-33. Psychotic symptoms were measured by Health of the Nation Outcome Scales. The dosage of antipsychotic medication was assessed in terms of equivalents of chlorpromazine, and antidepressant medication in terms of equivalents of fluoxetine. Spearman correlations were performed to explore the relationship between FCQ and other trauma-related measures. To determine the relative contributions of trauma-related symptoms to basic symptoms a linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The results showed that higher levels of basic symptoms of schizophrenia were associated with greater levels of symptoms of dissociation, traumatic stress, and sensitization or kindling-like processes in schizophrenia. Among the trauma-related variables, sensitization phenomena assessed with Complex Partial Seizure-like Symptoms Inventory were closely associated with basic symptoms. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that basic symptoms measured by FCQ might be related to trauma. The potential of trauma to influence neurodevelopmental hypotheses of schizophrenia is discussed.

• MeSH
• antipsychotika * terapeutické užití   MeSH
• disociační poruchy diagnóza   etiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• psychotické poruchy * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• schizofrenie * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• záchvaty farmakoterapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antipsychotika * MeSH

The objective of this study was to ascertain changes in symptoms of patients with borderline personality disorder undergoing psychodynamic day treatment with a duration of 9 months and the factors that predict clinical outcome or dropouts from the program.In an observational study, demographic characteristics (age, number of psychiatric hospitalizations, number of suicide attempts, current involvement in work or study activities), day doses of antipsychotic and antidepressant medication, psychiatric symptoms, and social functioning (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales), and symptoms of dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale) were assessed in patients at the beginning of treatment (N = 105). Further, psychiatric symptoms and social functioning were assessed at 3 stages: beginning of the program, end of the program, and 1-year follow-up. To study the differences between baseline values and values at the end of the treatment and follow-up values, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. To discover baseline factors related to the effect of the treatment, Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. To evaluate the differences between patients who completed the program (N = 67) and patients who dropped out (N = 38), differences in baseline factors between both groups were compared, using the Mann-Whitney test for independent samples.Improvement in symptoms (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales - version for external evaluators) at the end of the therapy (N = 67, P < .001) and at the 1-year follow-up (N = 46, P < .001) was found. Experience of an intimate relationship was positively related to clinical improvement at follow-up examinations (P < .001). Predictors of dropout included a higher number of psychiatric hospitalizations (P = .004), suicide attempts (P = .004), more severe pretreatment symptoms (P = .002), and symptoms of dissociation (P = .046).The results indicate that a psychodynamic day treatment is feasible for the treatment of less clinically disturbed patients with a history of intimate relationships. Patients with a higher number of previous psychiatric hospitalizations, more suicide attempts in the past, more severe pretreatment symptoms, and symptoms of dissociation are more likely not to complete the program.

• MeSH
• denní péče o pacienty metody   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hraniční porucha osobnosti terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neparametrická statistika MeSH
• pokus o sebevraždu statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• psychiatrické posuzovací škály MeSH
• psychodynamická psychoterapie metody   MeSH
• regresní analýza MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• studie proveditelnosti MeSH
• ukončení terapie pacientem statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH

BACKGROUND: According to recent data, dissociation may play an important role in borderline personality disorder (BPD), nevertheless specific influences of psychotropic medication on dissociative symptoms in BPD and their therapeutic indications are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess relationships of dissociative symptoms in BPD patients with levels of psychotropic medication and compare these results with a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated 52 BPD patients and compared the results with a control group of 36 schizophrenia patients. In all participants, we assessed actual day doses of antipsychotic medication in chlorpromazine equivalents and antidepressant medication in fluoxetine equivalents. Dissociative symptoms were measured by Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and other psychopathological symptoms were measured using Health of the Nation Outcome Scales. RESULTS: Results indicate that dissociative symptoms measured by DES were significantly correlated with antipsychotic medication (Spearman R=0.45, P<0.01) in chlorpromazine equivalents and antidepressant medication in fluoxetine equivalents (0.36, P<0.01). These relationships between medication and dissociative symptoms were not found in the control group of schizophrenia patients. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that levels of antipsychotic medication and antidepressant medication are significantly associated with dissociative symptoms in BPD but not in schizophrenia.

• Klíčová slova
• antidepressants, antipsychotics, dissociation, stress,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Deficit in visuospatial functions can influence both simple and complex daily life activities. Despite the fact that visuospatial deficit was reported in schizophrenia, research on visuospatial functions as an independent entity is limited. Our study aims to elucidate the impact of visuospatial deficit in comparison with verbal deficit on global functioning and quality of life in the first psychotic episode of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (FES). The significance of clinical symptoms and antipsychotic medication was also studied. METHODS: Thirty-six FES patients and a matched group of healthy controls (HC group) were assessed with a neuropsychological battery focused on visuospatial (VIS) and verbal (VERB) functions. Using multiple regression analysis, we evaluated the cumulative effect of VERB and VIS functions, psychiatric symptoms (PANSS) and antipsychotic medication on global functioning (GAF) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) in the FES group. RESULTS: The FES group demonstrated significant impairment both in VIS and VERB cognitive abilities compared to the HC group. Antipsychotic medication did not significantly affect either VIS or VERB functioning. PANSS was not related to cognitive functioning, apart from the Trail Making Test B. In the FES group, the GAF score was significantly affected by the severity of positive symptoms and VERB functioning, explaining together 60% of GAF variability. The severity of negative and positive symptoms affected only the Physical health domain of WHOQOL-BREF. The degree of VERB deficit was associated with both Physical and Psychological health. Although we did not find any relation between VIS functioning, GAF, and WHOQOL-BREF, a paradoxical finding emerged in the Environment quality domain, where a worse quality of the environment was associated with better VIS functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the deficit in VIS functions is an integral part of cognitive deficit in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, rather than a side effect of symptomatology or antipsychotic medication. Moreover, VERB functioning was a better predictor of GAF and WHOQOL-BREF than VIS functioning. Given the findings of negative or missing effect of VIS deficit on WHOQOL-BREF and GAF, the accuracy of these measures in evaluating the impact of global cognitive deficit on everyday life in schizophrenia could be questioned.

• Klíčová slova
• antipsychotic medication, cognitive deficit, first psychotic episode, global functioning, quality of life, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, verbal functions, visuospatial functions,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

It has been shown that learning a new skill leads to structural changes in the brain. However, it is unclear whether it is the acquisition or continuous practicing of the skill that causes this effect and whether brain connectivity of patients with schizophrenia can benefit from such practice. We examined the effect of 6 months exercise on a stationary bicycle on the brain in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Biking is an endemic skill in the Netherlands and thus offers an ideal situation to disentangle the effects of learning vs practice. The 33 participating patients with schizophrenia and 48 healthy individuals were assigned to either one of two conditions, ie, physical exercise or life-as-usual, balanced for diagnosis. Diffusion tensor imaging brain scans were made prior to and after intervention. We demonstrate that irrespective of diagnosis regular physical exercise of an overlearned skill, such as bicycling, significantly increases the integrity, especially of motor functioning related, white matter fiber tracts whereas life-as-usual leads to a decrease in fiber integrity. Our findings imply that exercise of an overlearned physical skill improves brain connectivity in patients and healthy individuals. This has important implications for understanding the effect of fitness programs on the brain in both healthy subjects and patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, the outcome may even apply to the nonphysical realm.

• Klíčová slova
• connectivity, diffusion tensor imaging, fractional anisotropy, longitudinal, physical exercise, schizophrenia,
• MeSH
• bílá hmota anatomie a histologie   patologie   MeSH
• cyklistika fyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• schizofrenie patologie   terapie   MeSH
• terapie cvičením metody   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH

Although motor speech impairment is a common manifestation of Huntington's disease (HD), its description remains limited. The aim of the current study was therefore to estimate the occurrence and characteristics of speech disorder in HD and to explore the influence of antipsychotic medication on speech performance. Speech samples, including reading passage and monologue, were acquired from 40 individuals diagnosed with HD and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Objective acoustic analyses were used to evaluate key aspects of speech including vowel articulation, intensity, pitch and timing. A predictive model was constructed to detect the occurrence and most prominent patterns of speech dysfunction in HD. We revealed that 93% of HD patients manifest some degree of speech impairment. Decreased number of pauses, slower articulation rate, imprecise vowel articulation and excess intensity variations were found to be the most salient patterns of speech dysfunction in HD. We further demonstrated that antipsychotic medication may induce excessive loudness and pitch variations perceptually resembling excess patterns of word stress, and may also accentuate general problems with speech timing. Additionally, antipsychotics induced a slight improvement of vowel articulation. Specific speech alterations observed in HD patients indicate that speech production may reflect the pathophysiology of the disease as well as treatment effects, and may therefore be considered a valuable marker of functional disability in HD.

• MeSH
• akustická stimulace MeSH
• antipsychotika škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• Huntingtonova nemoc komplikace   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• neparametrická statistika MeSH
• poruchy řeči chemicky indukované   diagnóza   etiologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• vizuální analogová stupnice MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antipsychotika MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive deficit is considered to be a characteristic feature of schizophrenia disorder. A similar cognitive dysfunction was demonstrated in animal models of schizophrenia. However, the poor comparability of methods used to assess cognition in animals and humans could be responsible for low predictive validity of current animal models. In order to assess spatial abilities in schizophrenia and compare our results with the data obtained in animal models, we designed a virtual analog of the Morris water maze (MWM), the virtual Four Goals Navigation (vFGN) task. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients after the first psychotic episode with schizophrenia symptoms and a matched group of healthy volunteers performed the vFGN task. They were required to find and remember four hidden goal positions in an enclosed virtual arena. The task consisted of two parts. The Reference memory (RM) session with a stable goal position was designed to test spatial learning. The Delayed-matching-to-place (DMP) session presented a modified working memory protocol designed to test the ability to remember a sequence of three hidden goal positions. RESULTS: Data obtained in the RM session show impaired spatial learning in schizophrenia patients compared to the healthy controls in pointing and navigation accuracy. The DMP session showed impaired spatial memory in schizophrenia during the recall of spatial sequence and a similar deficit in spatial bias in the probe trials. The pointing accuracy and the quadrant preference showed higher sensitivity toward the cognitive deficit than the navigation accuracy. Direct navigation to the goal was affected by sex and age of the tested subjects. The age affected spatial performance only in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some limitations of the study, our results correspond well with the previous studies in animal models of schizophrenia and support the decline of spatial cognition in schizophrenia, indicating the usefulness of the vFGN task in comparative research.

• Klíčová slova
• Morris Water Maze (MWM), cognitive deficit, learning and memory, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, spatial behavior, spatial navigation, virtual reality environment,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Dissociation likely plays a key role in schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD), although empirical studies that compare specific manifestations of these symptoms in schizophrenia and BPD are rare. In this context, the purpose of this study was to compare the occurrence of dissociative and other psychopathological symptoms in these disorders, and to assess the possible influence of antipsychotic medication on the dissociative symptoms. METHODS: We assessed 31 patients with schizophrenia and 36 patients with BPD. Dissociative symptoms were measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), symptoms related to stress and traumatic experiences were assessed using the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40), and other psychopathological symptoms were measured with the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). We also assessed actual daily doses of antipsychotic medication in chlorpromazine equivalents in all participants. RESULTS: The results show that symptoms of traumatic stress measured by the TSC-40 had significantly higher scores in the BPD group. The data also show that dissociative symptoms (DES) were significantly correlated with symptoms of traumatic stress (TSC-40) and with symptoms assessed by the HoNOS. Remarkably significant correlations were found between levels of antipsychotic medication and the DES and between antipsychotic medication and the depersonalization/derealization component of the DES in BPD patients. CONCLUSION: The results support an important role of dissociative processes in schizophrenia and BPD and suggest a significant relationship between manifestations of dissociative symptoms in BPD and antipsychotic medication.

• Klíčová slova
• antipsychotic medication, borderline personality disorder, dissociation, schizophrenia, stress-related symptoms,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH