Social cognitive endophenotypes in schizophrenia: A study comparing first episode schizophrenia patients and, individuals at clinical- and familial- 'at-risk' for psychosis.

Impairments in specific domains of social cognition have been suggested as possible endophenotypes for schizophrenia and clinical markers for accurate identification of 'at-risk' (AR) states. Aim of the present study was to find out whether performance on social cognition tasks will distinguish 'clinical at-risk (CAR)' and 'familial at-risk (FAR)' individuals from remitted first episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and healthy controls. Fifty in each of these four groups were included for analysis.

Evaluation of spontaneous dense array gamma oscillatory activity and minor physical anomalies as a composite neurodevelopmental endophenotype in schizophrenia.

Objective: Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) and gamma oscillatory activity have been proposed as associated endophenotypes in schizophrenia. Combining these endophenotypes to create a composite endophenotype may help identify those at risk for schizophrenia better. The present study aims to investigate MPAs and gamma oscillatory activity in schizophrenia patients, their unaffected first degree relatives and healthy controls and appreciate whether they can be used together as a composite endophenotype.

Schneiderian first rank symptoms and gamma oscillatory activity in neuroleptic naïve first episode schizophrenia: a 192 channel EEG study.

Objective: Schneiderian first-rank symptoms (FRS) and abnormal EEG gamma activity in schizophrenia have been reported independently to have a neurodevelopmental basis. We aimed to investigate spontaneous gamma power in two groups of first episode schizophrenia patients (those who experience FRS and those who do not).

Methods: A comparative hospital based study having 37neuroleptic naïve male patients with schizophrenia divided into two groups-FRS(+) and FRS(-) groups based on the presence of FRS.

Sporadic and familial subgroups of schizophrenia do not differ on dense array spontaneous gamma oscillatory activity.

Genetic variations and developmental insults independently have been proposed to underlie aberrant gamma activity in schizophrenia. We investigated differences in spectral power in gamma (30-100Hz) frequency in patients with familial and sporadic schizophrenia. Subjects underwent resting-awake EEG recording on 192 channels.

Socio-emotional factors in alcohol dependence.

Background: Alcohol-dependent patients are traditionally believed to have insecure attachment styles, higher anger expression, and lower self-esteem. There is a need to study them together.

Aim: To understand the relationships amongst various of the socio-emotional factors.