Visual P3 amplitude modulation deficit in schizophrenia is independent of duration of illness.

Background: In the search for markers of schizophrenia, functional deficits during inhibition have been a major focus. In previous studies, we found a reduced amplitude modulation of the visual P3 component of the event-related potential (ERP) in schizophrenic patients during inhibition in the Attention Network Test (ANT). The objective of the present study was to explore whether this deficit exhibits properties of a trait or state marker of schizophrenia.

Single-subject classification of schizophrenia by event-related potentials during selective attention.

Background: Executive dysfunction has repeatedly been proposed as a robust and promising substrate of analytical approaches in the research of neurocognitive markers of schizophrenia. Here, we present a mixed model- and data-driven classification approach by applying a task that targets executive dysfunction in schizophrenia and by investigating relevant event-related potential (ERP) features with machine learning classifiers.

Methods: Forty schizophrenic patients and forty matched healthy controls completed the Attention Network Test while an electroencephalogram was recorded.

Evidence of specificity of a visual P3 amplitude modulation deficit in schizophrenia.

Background: In a previous study, we found a reduced amplitude modulation of the visual P3 component of the event-related potential (ERP) in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy controls during inhibition in the Attention Network Test (ANT). The objective of the present study was to replicate this finding and to explore whether this cortical processing deficit is specific to schizophrenia.

Methods: Sixteen schizophrenic patients, sixteen depressive patients, and sixteen healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education were included.

Dissection of early bottom-up and top-down deficits during visual attention in schizophrenia.

Objective: To characterize the interplay of bottom-up and top-down processing deficits of the early visual ERP component N1 in schizophrenia.

Methods: Thirty-three schizophrenic patients and 61 healthy controls underwent a visual selective attention paradigm while 32-channel electroencephalogram was recorded. Visual N1 responses were calculated and source localization was applied.

Association of HTR2C, but not LEP or INSIG2, genes with antipsychotic-induced weight gain in a German sample.

Background: Drug-induced bodyweight gain (BWG) is a serious concern in pharmacotherapy with second-generation antipsychotics. The interindividual variability is likely to be modulated by genetic factors. In the past, pharmacogenetic studies yielded conflicting results, and none of the identified genetic alterations exerts sufficient predictive value for this severe side effect of psychopharmacotherapy.