Gender differences of patients at-risk for psychosis regarding symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity and functioning - Results from the EU-GEI study.

Background: Gender differences in symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia and first episode psychosis patients have often been reported. However, little is known about gender differences in those at risk of psychotic disorders. This study investigated gender differences in symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity (i.

No associations between medial temporal lobe volumes and verbal learning/memory in emerging psychosis.

Grey matter (GM) volume alterations have been repeatedly demonstrated in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP). Some of these neuroanatomical abnormalities are already evident in the at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis. Not only GM alterations but also neurocognitive impairments predate the onset of frank psychosis with verbal learning and memory (VLM) being among the most impaired domains.

Clinical and functional long-term outcome of patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis without transition to psychosis: A systematic review.

Background: Research on patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis has so far mainly focused on those with transition to frank psychosis (CHR-T patients). However, the majority of CHR patients do not transition (CHR-NT patients) and relatively little information is available on their clinical and functional outcome.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review on clinical and functional long-term outcome of CHR-NT patients.

The relationship between negative symptoms and cognitive functioning in patients at clinical high risk for psychosis.

Negative symptoms and neurocognitive performance have been reported to be negatively associated in patients with emerging psychosis. However, most previous studies focused on patients with frank psychosis and did not differentiate between subdomains of negative symptoms. Hence, we aimed to elucidate the specific relationship between negative symptoms and cognitive functioning in patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis.

Plasma and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and their association with neurocognition in at-risk mental state, first episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia patients.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in numerous cognitive processes. Since cognitive deficits are a core feature of psychotic disorders, the investigation of BDNF levels in psychosis and their correlation with cognition has received increased attention. However, there are no studies investigating BDNF levels in individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis.

Evaluating verbal learning and memory in patients with an at-risk mental state or first episode psychosis using structural equation modelling.

Background: Verbal learning and memory are impaired not only in patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) but also-to a lower extent-in those with an at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS). However, little is known about the specific nature of these impairments. Hence, we aimed to study learning and memory processes in ARMS and FEP patients by making use of structural equation modelling.

Can neuropsychological testing facilitate differential diagnosis between at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Background: Patients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have many overlapping signs and symptoms and hence can be difficult to differentiate clinically. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the differential diagnosis between ARMS and adult ADHD could be improved by neuropsychological testing.

Methods: 168 ARMS patients, 123 adult ADHD patients and 109 healthy controls (HC) were recruited via specialized clinics of the University of Basel Psychiatric Hospital.

The Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire for self-assessment of basic symptoms in the early detection of psychosis-Factor structure, reliability, and predictive validity.

Objectives: Patients with schizophrenia often experience subtle disturbances in several domains of information processing-so-called basic symptoms (BS). BS are already present before onset of frank psychosis and can be assessed by interviews but also by the self-administered Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ). We investigated the factor structure, reliability, and predictive validity for transition to psychosis of the FCQ, comparing previously proposed factor solutions containing 1, 2, 4, and 10 factors.

Gender differences in first self-perceived signs and symptoms in patients with an at-risk mental state and first-episode psychosis.

Aim: Gender differences in the current symptomatology of patients with psychotic disorders have previously been described in the literature. However, it has not yet been investigated whether gender differences exist in the very first self-perceived signs or symptoms of illness onset. The aim of this study was to investigate this aspect in at-risk mental state (ARMS) and first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients.

Outcome of individuals "not at risk of psychosis" and prognostic accuracy of the Basel Screening Instrument for Psychosis (BSIP).

Background: We aimed to determine the prognostic accuracy of the Basel Screening Instrument for Psychosis (BSIP) in terms of specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive value by following up individuals that were initially not considered to be at increased risk of psychosis based on the BSIP. Moreover, clinical characteristics of these individuals were examined given the relative lack of such information in the literature.

Methods: As part of the "Früherkennung von Psychosen" (FePsy) study, 87 individuals were screened with the BSIP.

Sex differences in prolactin levels in emerging psychosis: Indication for enhanced stress reactivity in women.

Background: Hyperprolactinemia is a known side effect of antipsychotics. In recent reports it has also been shown in antipsychotic-naïve at-risk mental state (ARMS) and first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Prolactin is not only involved in reproduction and lactation, but is also synthesized in response to stress.

Individualized metacognitive therapy for delusions: A randomized controlled rater-blind study.

Background: Theory-driven interventions targeting specific factors that contribute to delusions are receiving increased interest. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of individualized metacognitive therapy (MCT+), a short manualized intervention that addresses delusion-associated cognitive biases.

Methods: 92 patients with current or past delusions were randomized to receive 12 twice-weekly sessions of either MCT+ or a control intervention within a randomized controlled rater-blind design.

[Why and how to treat psychosis earlier?].

Chronic psychosis, as for instance schizophrenia, usually begins in young adulthood and may cause severe disability. It causes a mean loss of life expectancy of 22 years. Actual models of psychosis do not trace the beginning of psychosis to the first franc psychotic episode only, but to earlier symptoms.

Neural oscillations in antipsychotic-naïve patients with a first psychotic episode.

Objectives: In chronic schizophrenic psychoses, oscillatory abnormalities predominantly occur in prefrontal cortical regions and are associated with reduced communication across cortical areas. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether similar alterations can be observed in patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP), a state characterised by pathological features occurring in both late prodromal patients and initial phases of frank schizophrenic psychoses.

Methods: We assessed resting-state electroencephalographic data of 31 antipsychotic-naïve FEP patients and 29 healthy controls (HC).

Correlations between self-rating and observer-rating of psychopathology in at-risk mental state and first-episode psychosis patients: influence of disease stage and gender.

Aim: Research findings on the correlations between self-rating and observer-rating of schizophrenic psychopathology are inconsistent and have rarely considered first-episode psychosis (FEP) and at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis patients. This study investigates these correlations in ARMS and FEP patients and how they are moderated by disease stage and gender.

Methods: In the Basel Früherkennung von Psychosen (FePsy) study, positive and negative psychotic and affective symptoms were rated in 126 ARMS and 94 FEP patients using two observer- and three self-rating scales.