Abstract
First-episode psychosis (FEP) patients show structural brain abnormalities at the first episode. Whether the cortical changes that follow a FEP are progressive and whether age at onset modulates these changes remains unclear. This is a multicenter MRI study in a deeply phenotyped sample of 74 FEP patients with a wide age range at onset (15–35 years) and 64 neurotypical healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent two MRI scans with a 2-year follow-up interval. We computed the longitudinal percentage of change (PC) for cortical thickness (CT), surface area (CSA) and volume (CV) for frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. We used general linear models to assess group differences in PC as a function of age at FEP. We conducted post-hoc analyses for metrics where PC differed as a function of age at onset. We found a significant age-by-diagnosis interaction effect for PC of temporal lobe CT (d = 0.54; p = 002). In a post-hoc-analysis, adolescent-onset (≤19 y) FEP showed more severe longitudinal cortical thinning in the temporal lobe than adolescent HC. We did not find this difference in adult-onset FEP compared to adult HC. Our study suggests that, in individuals with psychosis, CT changes that follow the FEP are dependent on the age at first episode, with those with an earlier onset showing more pronounced cortical thinning in the temporal lobe.
Highlights
Studies assessing brain cortical changes in the first phases of psychotic disorders are important for understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of the illness
In that study we found that patients with adolescent onset of schizophrenia spectrum disorders showed cortical volume and thickness deficits principally in frontal and temporal regions, which are regions reportedly undergoing active maturation at that developmental stage
We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of a biologically-driven first episode of psychosis (FEP) cluster that shows the most pronounced age-related longitudinal cortical changes
Summary
Studies assessing brain cortical changes in the first phases of psychotic disorders are important for understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of the illness. Converging evidence supports that structural brain abnormalities present at the first episode of psychosis (FEP) are the consequence of years-long deviant developmental processes that begin long before the first manifestations of psychosis emerge[1,2]. In that study we found that patients with adolescent onset of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (but not those with an adult onset) showed cortical volume and thickness deficits principally in frontal and temporal regions, which are regions reportedly undergoing active maturation at that developmental stage. It is still not clear whether age at onset modulates the presence and severity of longitudinal cortical changes that occur after first-episode onset.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
