Processing of social emotion in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder: an fMRI study.

The lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders among schizophrenia patients is close to 50%. The negative consequences of substance abuse in schizophrenia are well documented, but the aetiology of this comorbid condition remains unknown. Mounting evidence suggests that dual-diagnosis patients have fewer negative symptoms and better social skills, compared to non-abusing patients.

Working memory and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

Background: Substance abuse is highly prevalent in schizophrenia and it has been associated with negative consequences on the course of the pathology. Regarding cognition, the prevailing literature has produced mixed results. Some groups have reported greater cognitive impairments in dual diagnosis schizophrenia, while other groups have described the reverse.

Endogenous cannabinoids in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder during quetiapine therapy.

Disturbances in the endogenous cannabinoid (ECB) system in schizophrenia may contribute to their enhanced sensitivity to psychoactive substances, and the beneficial effects of second-generation antipsychotics for substance abuse in schizophrenia may involve modulatory effects on ECB. To verify these two assumptions, 29 patients (24 completers) with schizophrenia and substance use disorders (SUD) were treated with quetiapine for 12 weeks, and peripheral ECB levels were measured, using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, in patients (weeks 0, 6 and 12) and 17 healthy volunteers. Baseline anandamide levels were significantly higher in patients, relative to controls.

Analgesic and antihyperalgesic effects of nabilone on experimental heat pain.

Objective: In this study, we explored the analgesic and antihyperalgesic properties of a synthetic cannabinoid (nabilone) on experimental heat pain in men and women, as well as its effects on descending pain inhibitory systems.

Research Design And Methods: A double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study of nabilone single doses of 0.5 and 1 mg was conducted.

Anhedonia and social adaptation predict substance abuse evolution in dual diagnosis schizophrenia.

The current study sought to identify the variables, derived from the self-medication hypothesis, which predicted substance abuse evolution during a homogeneous 3-month antipsychotic treatment. Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance abuse (mainly cannabis and alcohol). Substance abuse, psychiatric symptoms, anhedonia, and social adjustment were assessed at baseline and study endpoint.

Hypoalgesia in schizophrenia is independent of antipsychotic drugs: a systematic quantitative review of experimental studies.

Diminished sensitivity to pain in schizophrenia has been reported since the early works of Bleuler [Bleuler E. Textbook of psychiatry (trans. Brill HA, 1951).

Pain perception in schizophrenia: no changes in diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) but a lack of pain sensitization.

Background: Pain is a dynamic phenomenon resulting from the activity of both excitatory (e.g. sensitization) and inhibitory endogenous modulation systems.

Inflammatory cytokine alterations in schizophrenia: a systematic quantitative review.

Background: Cytokines play an important role in infection and inflammation and are crucial mediators of the cross-talk between the brain and the immune system. Schizophrenia would be associated with an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines, leading to a decrease in Th1 and an increase in Th2 cytokine secretion. However, data published so far have been inconsistent.

Meta-analysis of depressive symptoms in dual-diagnosis schizophrenia.

Substance abuse is highly prevalent in schizophrenia and associated with numerous negative consequences. While studies have regularly reported more severe depressive symptoms in addicted schizophrenia patients relative to non-abusing patients, some studies have not corroborated this finding. The current meta-analysis was performed to quantify the relative severity of depressive symptoms in dual-diagnosis schizophrenia.

Cannabis and psychosis: what is the link?

Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that cannabis consumption is a risk factor for the development of psychotic symptoms. Nonetheless, controversy remains about the causal nature of the association. This review takes the debate further through a critical appraisal of the evidence.

Orbitofrontal dysfunction in a monozygotic twin discordant for postpartum affective psychosis: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Incomplete concordance for psychosis in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been interpreted as indicative of non-genetic cofactors in transmission of the illness. In this case study, we consider childbirth a landmark in the onset of psychotic symptoms, leading to the diagnosis of puerperal psychosis and then to bipolar/schizoaffective disorder. At the end of the third trimester, there is a sudden drop in estrogen, which exerts prominent effects on the serotonergic system in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

Contradictory cognitive capacities among substance-abusing patients with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.

Although a substance use disorder (SUD) is traditionally associated with psycho-bio-social impairments, recent investigations among persons with schizophrenia (Sz) generated divergent results. Certain persons with Sz+SUD might in fact present better social and cognitive functioning than persons with Sz without SUD. This meta-analysis was conducted to verify this counterintuitive possibility and to determine whether factors such as substance type, severity or nature of psychotic symptoms and age of the patients help discriminate these subgroups.

Fast line-shape correction procedure for imaging Fourier-transform spectrometers.

An instrument line-shape correction method adapted to imaging Fourier-transform spectrometers is demonstrated. The method calibrates all pixels on the same spectral grid and permits a direct comparison of the spectral features between pixels such as emission or absorption lines. Computation speed is gained by using matrix line-shape integration formalism rather than properly inverting the line shape of each pixel.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) add-on therapy for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.

Background: Negative symptoms are among the most chronic symptoms of schizophrenia. Even with the advent of atypical antipsychotic drugs, negative symptoms remain mostly refractory to treatment. It has been proposed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) augmentation therapy in schizophrenia could provide a greater relief of these symptoms.

Normal adiponectin levels despite abnormal glucose tolerance (or diabetes) and inflammation in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Rationale: Circulating adiponectin levels are negatively associated with glucose intolerance, inflammation and central adiposity. Since these conditions are common in cystic fibrosis (CF), we examined whether adiponectin values are altered in these patients.

Aim: To determine if CF patients have altered adiponectin levels and if these levels correlate with glucose tolerance categories (normal, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD)), insulin resistance or inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Increased glucose excursion in cystic fibrosis and its association with a worse clinical status.

Background: Abnormal glucose tolerance is a frequent co-morbidity in cystic fibrosis patients (CF), and is associated with a worse prognosis. The objectives are to investigate (a) the relative contribution of insulinopenia and insulin resistance (IR) for glucose tolerance and (b) the association between various glucose parameters and CF clinical status.

Methods: Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 114 consecutive CF patients not known to be diabetic as well as 14 controls similar for age and BMI.

Increased striatal gray matter densities in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder: a voxel-based morphometry study.

We sought to investigate the link between substance abuse and increased striatal gray matter densities (GMD) in schizophrenia, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Increased striatal GMD were found in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder (n=12), but not schizophrenia only patients (n=11), compared to healthy volunteers (n=15).

Computerized assessment of cognition in schizophrenia: promises and pitfalls of CANTAB.

Objective: Over the last decade, the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), which comprises visuo-spatial tasks, has been utilized in cognitive studies of schizophrenia. A clear approach concerning the usage of CANTAB for the appraisal of neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia is currently lacking.

Method: In this paper, we have first reviewed the overall applications of CANTAB and then evaluated methodological strengths and weaknesses of CANTAB as a neurocognitive battery for schizophrenia.

Quetiapine in patients with comorbid schizophrenia-spectrum and substance use disorders: an open-label trial.

Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that clozapine relieves the craving for psychoactive substances in schizophrenia patients. Quetiapine shares crucial pharmacological properties with clozapine. Promising results have been described with quetiapine therapy in patients with psychosis and substance use disorder.

Increased extrapyramidal symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and a comorbid substance use disorder.

Few data have been gathered about the impact of psychoactive substances on extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in schizophrenia, and so far, inconsistent results have been reported. We studied 41 outpatients with schizophrenia (based on DSM-IV criteria), who were divided into two groups: with (n = 17) and without (n = 24) a substance use disorder (alcohol, cannabis, and/or cocaine). Both groups were matched for sociodemographic data and psychiatric symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale).

Neural correlates of the affect regulation model in schizophrenia patients with substance use history: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: The lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders among schizophrenia patients is close to 50%. The negative consequences of substance abuse in schizophrenia are well documented, but the etiology of this comorbid condition remains unknown. According to the affect regulation model, schizophrenia patients abuse drugs in order to cope with their negative affects.

A meta-analysis of negative symptoms in dual diagnosis schizophrenia.

Background: According to the self-medication hypothesis, schizophrenia patients would abuse psychoactive substances to get a relief from their negative symptoms. Studies testing the self-medication hypothesis in dual diagnosis (DD) schizophrenia have not been conclusive, with some studies showing that DD patients experience fewer negative symptoms, whereas other studies have failed to detect such differences. One potential confounding factor for this discrepancy lies in the diverse scales used to evaluate the negative symptoms.