Network Analysis Indicates That Avolition Is the Most Central Domain for the Successful Treatment of Negative Symptoms: Evidence From the Roluperidone Randomized Clinical Trial.

A recent conceptual development in schizophrenia is to view its manifestations as interactive networks rather than individual symptoms. Negative symptoms, which are associated with poor functional outcome and reduced rates of recovery, represent a critical need in schizophrenia therapeutics. MIN101 (roluperidone), a compound in development, demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

High glycemic index and glycemic load diets as risk factors for insomnia: analyses from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Previous studies have shown mixed results on the association between carbohydrate intake and insomnia. However, any influence that refined carbohydrates have on risk of insomnia is likely commensurate with their relative contribution to the overall diet, so studies are needed that measure overall dietary glycemic index (GI), glycemic load, and intakes of specific types of carbohydrates.

Objective: We hypothesized that higher GI and glycemic load would be associated with greater odds of insomnia prevalence and incidence.

Paternal occupational lead exposure and offspring risks for schizophrenia.

This register-based cohort study investigated whether paternal occupational exposure to inorganic lead was related to offspring risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Exposed men (n=11,863) were identified from blood lead measurements taken at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 1973-1983. Data on mothers and their offspring born from 1972-1984 were obtained from the national Population Information System.

The Symptoms of Trauma Scale (SOTS): An Initial Psychometric Study.

The Symptoms of Trauma Scale (SOTS) is a 12-item, interview-based, clinician-rated measure that assesses the severity of a range of trauma-related symptoms. This pilot study evaluated its use and psychometric properties in an outpatient setting that provides treatment to survivors of chronic interpersonal trauma. Thirty participants completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, dissociation, self-esteem, and affect dysregulation; the participants also participated separately in a semistructured interview based on the SOTS conducted by 2 trained interviewers.

High glycemic index diet as a risk factor for depression: analyses from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: The consumption of sweetened beverages, refined foods, and pastries has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of depression in longitudinal studies. However, any influence that refined carbohydrates has on mood could be commensurate with their proportion in the overall diet; studies are therefore needed that measure overall intakes of carbohydrate and sugar, glycemic index (GI), and glycemic load.

Objective: We hypothesized that higher dietary GI and glycemic load would be associated with greater odds of the prevalence and incidence of depression.

Ameliorating treatment-refractory depression with intranasal ketamine: potential NMDA receptor actions in the pain circuitry representing mental anguish.

This article reviews the antidepressant actions of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartame glutamate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and offers a potential neural mechanism for intranasal ketamine's ultra-rapid actions based on the key role of NMDAR in the nonhuman primate prefrontal cortex (PFC). Although intravenous ketamine infusions can lift mood within hours, the current review describes how intranasal ketamine administration can have ultra-rapid antidepressant effects, beginning within minutes (5-40 minutes) and lasting hours, but with repeated treatments needed for sustained antidepressant actions. Research in rodents suggests that increased synaptogenesis in PFC may contribute to the prolonged benefit of ketamine administration, beginning hours after administration.

Pharmacotherapy of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

While second-generation antipsychotics treat negative as well as positive symptoms, recovery for persons with schizophrenia remains elusive, in part because there are no FDA-approved medications that treat the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia (CDS). Recent work has identified agents that, when added to antipsychotics, improve cognition in schizophrenia. This work and hypothesized mechanisms of action will be reviewed.

Public stigma associated with psychosis risk syndrome in a college population: implications for peer intervention.

Objectives: This study compared stigma associated with the psychosis risk label and diagnostic labels for nonpsychotic and psychotic mental disorders among young adult peers.

Methods: Urban college respondents (N=153) read an experimental vignette describing a young adult experiencing prodromal symptoms who was randomly assigned a diagnostic label (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis risk with and without accurate information about the psychosis risk label) and answered questions about stigma toward the individual in the vignette.

Results: Compared with labels for nonpsychotic disorders, schizophrenia elicited more negative stereotyping and the at-risk label invoked greater social distance and less willingness to help.

Paternal age related schizophrenia (PARS): Latent subgroups detected by k-means clustering analysis.

Background: Paternal age related schizophrenia (PARS) has been proposed as a subgroup of schizophrenia with distinct etiology, pathophysiology and symptoms. This study uses a k-means clustering analysis approach to generate hypotheses about differences between PARS and other cases of schizophrenia.

Methods: We studied PARS (operationally defined as not having any family history of schizophrenia among first and second-degree relatives and fathers' age at birth ≥ 35 years) in a series of schizophrenia cases recruited from a research unit.

Brain tumor location and psychiatric symptoms: is there any association? A meta-analysis of published case studies.

A meta-analytic study of reports of brain tumors and psychiatric symptoms for the past 50 years was conducted to examine potential associations between tumor location and psychiatric symptoms. Results demonstrated that there is a statistically significant association between anorexia symptoms and hypothalamic tumors. For the rest of the brain regions a statistically significant association could not be definitively determined.

Short sleep duration as a risk factor for hypercholesterolemia: analyses of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

Study Objectives: To explore the relationship between sleep duration in adolescence and hypercholesterolemia in young adulthood. Experimental sleep restriction has been shown to significantly increase total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in women. Short sleep duration has been found in cross sectional studies to be associated with higher total cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol levels.

Potential stigma associated with inclusion of the psychosis risk syndrome in the DSM-V: an empirical question.

While the "clinical high-risk state" for psychosis has demonstrated good reliability and fair predictive validity for psychotic disorders, over 50% of identified subjects do not progress to psychosis. Despite the benefits that early detection and treatment might offer, debate concerning the official inclusion of a "psychosis risk syndrome" in the upcoming DSM-V frequently involves concerns about the impact of stigma on patients, families and institutions. We add to this debate by providing an analysis of the theoretical and empirical stigma literature to evaluate the potential effects of stigma associated with the psychosis risk syndrome.

Time-to-pregnancy and risk of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia has been linked to advanced paternal age, but the explanation is unknown. We questioned whether the incidence of schizophrenia would be related to male reproductive capacity, as reflected in the time taken to conceive. We measured the incidence of schizophrenia in relation to time to conception in a sub-group of 12,269 in the Jerusalem cohort whose mothers, interviewed post-partum, reported that the pregnancy had been intended.

Prenatal exposure to lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid, and schizophrenia: further evidence.

Background: A previously conducted study of prenatal lead exposure and schizophrenia using delta-aminolevulinic acid, a biologic marker of Pb exposure, in archived maternal serum samples collected from subjects enrolled in the Childhood Health and Development Study (1959-1966) based in Oakland, California, suggested a possible association between prenatal Pb exposure and the development of schizophrenia in later life.

Objectives: In the present study we extend these findings using samples collected from the New England cohort of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1966). Using similar methods, in this study we found results that suggest a comparable association in this cohort.

Sleep duration associated with mortality in elderly, but not middle-aged, adults in a large US sample.

Study Objectives: To explore age differences in the relationship between sleep duration and mortality by conducting analyses stratified by age. Both short and long sleep durations have been found to be associated with mortality. Short sleep duration is associated with negative health outcomes, but there is little evidence that long sleep duration has adverse health effects.

Statistical validation of the criteria for symptom remission in schizophrenia: preliminary findings.

Background: Published methods for assessing remission in schizophrenia are variable and none have been definitively validated or standardized. Andreasen et al (2005) suggest systematic operational criteria using eight PANSS items for which patients must score < or = 3 (mild) for at least six months.

Methods: Using data from a one year, multi-site clinical trial (n = 675) remission criteria were compared to total PANSS scores and other endpoints and demonstrate excellent agreement with overall clinical status.

PANSS rater training using Internet and videoconference: results from a pilot study.

Problems associated with the clinician-administered rating scales have led to new approaches to improve rater training. These include interactive, on-line didactic tutorials and live, remote evaluation of raters' clinical skills through the use of videoconferencing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this approach in training novice raters on the administration of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS).

Pharmacotherapy of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III, DSM-III-R and DSM-IV, the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) requires the presence of three symptom clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), in particular sertraline and paroxetine, have emerged as the treatment of choice for trauma victims experiencing these three symptom clusters. While not approved by the U.

Tetrachloroethylene exposure and risk of schizophrenia: offspring of dry cleaners in a population birth cohort, preliminary findings.

Tetrachloroethylene is a solvent used in dry cleaning with reported neurotoxic effects. Using proportional hazard methods, we examined the relationship between parental occupation as a dry cleaner and risk for schizophrenia in a prospective population-based cohort of 88,829 offspring born in Jerusalem from 1964 through 1976, followed from birth to age 21-33 years. Of 144 offspring whose parents were dry cleaners, 4 developed schizophrenia.

Does unwantedness of pregnancy predict schizophrenia in the offspring? Findings from a prospective birth cohort study.

Background: We sought to replicate (or refute) a previous report of an association between unwantedness of a pregnancy and the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring.

Method: The study was conducted using a large, prospectively collected birth cohort as part of the Prenatal Determinants of Schizophrenia study (PDS). Attitude toward the pregnancy was assessed at the time of the mother's first visit to the prenatal clinic.

Fetal environment and schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia and related disorders are adult-onset illnesses with no definitively established risk factors. Several studies report that exposures to infection and nutritional deprivation during early development may elevate the risk of later developing schizophrenia, specifically during the prenatal period. Preliminary evidence implicates lead exposure as well, suggesting that chemical exposures during early development may constitute a new class of risk factors for schizophrenia that has not been adequately investigated.

Prenatal lead exposure, delta-aminolevulinic acid, and schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder of unknown etiology. Recent reports suggest that a number of environmental factors during prenatal development may be associated with schizophrenia. We tested the hypothesis that environmental lead exposure may be associated with schizophrenia using archived serum samples from a cohort of live births enrolled between 1959 and 1966 in Oakland, California.