Progressive loss of cortical gray matter in first episode psychosis patients with auditory hallucinations
- PMID: 38044223
- DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.11.011
Progressive loss of cortical gray matter in first episode psychosis patients with auditory hallucinations
Abstract
Background: Previous longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown progressive gray matter (GM) reduction during the earliest phases of schizophrenia. It is unknown whether these progressive processes are homogeneous in all groups of patients. One way to obtain more valid findings is to focus on the symptoms. Auditory hallucinations (AHs) are frequent and reliable symptoms of psychosis. The present study aims to analyze whether longitudinal changes in structural abnormalities in cortical regions are related to the presence of AHs and the intensity of psychotic symptoms in a large sample.
Methods: A Magnetic Resonance (MR) voxel-based morphometry analysis was applied to a group of 128 first episodes psychosis (FEP) patients (63 patients with AHs and 65 patients without AHs) and 78 matched healthy controls at baseline and at a 2-year follow-up.
Results: At baseline, FEP patients exhibited significant GM volume reductions in the temporal, frontal and precentral regions. At follow-up, FEP patients exhibited GM volume changes in the temporal, Rolandic, frontal, precentral and insula regions. At baseline, no significant differences were found between FEP patients with and without AHs. At follow-up, while FEP patients with AHs showed less GM volume in temporal and frontal lobes, non-AH FEP patients showed reductions in the frontal, precentral and fusiform areas. PANSS scores showed statistically significant correlations with GM volume reductions at baseline and follow-up.
Conclusions: Brain cortical loss in the early phases of psychosis is not associated with potentially transitory AHs; however, brain structural changes may emerge as AHs appear in chronic patients.
Keywords: Auditory hallucinations; First-episode psychosis; Longitudinal study; Neuroimaging; Schizophrenia.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of competing interest Anna Mane has served as a speaker and received honoraria to attend conferences from Otsuka, Angelini and Neuraxpharm. Concepción de-la-Cámara received financial support to attend scientific meetings from Janssen, Almirall, Lilly, Lundbeck, Rovi, Esteve, Novartis, Astrazeneca, Pfizer and Casen Recordati. Roberto Rodríguez-Jiménez has been a consultant for, spoken in activities of, or received grants from: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid Regional Government (S2010/ BMD-2422 AGES; S2017/BMD-3740), JanssenCilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Ferrer, Juste, Takeda, Exeltis, Casen-Recordati, Angelini, Rovi. Angela Ibáñez has received research support from or served as speaker or advisor for Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka and Casen Recordati. Jerónimo Saiz-Ruiz has been a speaker for and on the advisory boards of Adamed, Lundbeck, Servier, Medtronic, Casen Recordati, Neurofarmagen, Otsuka, Indivior, Lilly, Schwabe, Janssen and Pfizer, outside the submitted work. Leticia González-Blanco has received honoraria for lecturing, research and/or travel grants for attending conferences from the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Otsuka-Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag, Angelini, Casen Recordati and Pfizer. Miquel Bernardo has been a consultant for, received grant/research support and honoraria from, and been on the speakers/advisory board of ABBiotics, Adamed, Angelini, Casen Recordati, Janssen-Cilag, Menarini, Rovi and Takeda. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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