Positive Symptoms Of Schizophrenia Research Articles

Aberrant salience mediates the interplay between emotional abuse and positive symptoms in schizophrenia

IntroductionChildhood trauma and adversities (CTA) and aberrant salience (AS) have a pivotal role in schizophrenia development, but their interplay with psychotic symptoms remains vague. We explored the mediation performed by AS between CTA and psychotic symptomatology in schizophrenia. MethodsWe approached 241 adults suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), who have been in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months, excluding the diagnosis of dementia, and recent substance abuse disorder, and cross-sectional evaluated through the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short-Form (CTQ-SF), and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). We tested a path-diagram where AS mediated the relationship between CTA and psychosis, after verifying each measure one-dimensionality through confirmatory factor analysis. ResultsThe final sample comprised 222 patients (36.9% female), with a mean age of 42.4 (± 13.3) years and an average antipsychotic dose of 453.6 (± 184.2) mg/day (chlorpromazine equivalents). The mean duration of untreated psychosis was 1.8 (± 2.0) years while the mean onset age was 23.9 (± 8.2) years. Significant paths were found from emotional abuse to ASI total score (β = 0.39; p < .001) and from ASI total score to PANSS positive (β = 0.17; p = .019). Finally, a statistically significant indirect association was found from emotional abuse to PANSS positive mediated by ASI total score (β = 0.06; p = .041; CI 95% [0.01, 0.13]). ConclusionEmotional abuse has an AS-mediated effect on positive psychotic symptomatology. AS evaluation could allow a better characterization of psychosis as well as explain the presence of positive symptoms in adults with SSDs who experienced CTA.

331. Disruption of Consciousness Depends on Insight in OCD and on Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia

331. Disruption of Consciousness Depends on Insight in OCD and on Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Socio-demographic characteristics of patients with negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that leads to impaired social adaptation, interpersonal interaction, and disability. Negative symptoms are an integral part of schizophrenia. In the world psychiatric science and practice, there are still many questions about the typology of schizophrenia, the description of its clinical manifestations, first of all, the features of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Psychiatrists of different countries draw attention to the fact that these descriptions do not always coincide. Socio-demographic factors can be considered as factors affecting the prognosis of the course and outcome of schizophrenia. In this regard, a comprehensive approach to the study of socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia involves the study of the influence of social factors on the formation and course of schizophrenia and determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study was to determine the features of socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia in order to improve diagnosis and create psycho-corrective measures. 252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia were examined. During the research, a comprehensive approach was used, consisting in the use of clinical-psychopathological, clinical-anamnestic and statistical research methods. Socio-demographic features of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia were established, consisting in the predominance of women; patients aged 20-29 years; persons with special secondary education; divorced and single persons; patients busy with physical labor; average level of material wealth; very poor and poor living conditions. Socio-demographic characteristics of patients with positive symptoms in schizophrenia were outlined by the predominance of men; patients aged 30-49 years; persons with incomplete higher education and with higher education; divorced and single persons; patients with disabilities; with extremely low and low levels of material well-being and a satisfactory level of living conditions. The conducted research made it possible to draw conclusions that socio-demographic features of patients with negative and positive symptoms have their own specificity, which should be taken into account when diagnosing patients with schizophrenia.

Psychosocial Correlates of the Experience of Caregiving Among Caregivers of Patients With Schizophrenia.

Family caregivers provide essential support to their loved ones with schizophrenia with profound outcomes for themselves. The caregiver burden fails to consider the entire caregiving experience, which also incorporates positive aspects of caring. Many potentially significant variables are associated with this. To examine the correlates of the experience of caregiving in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The specific objectives were to examine the socio-demographic variables of the patients and caregivers, clinical variables of the patient, caregivers' knowledge of illness, caregivers' perspectives of family functioning, caregiver coping, their social support, psychological distress, quality of life,and their spirituality, religiosity and personal beliefs and the associations of these variables with the caregivers' experience of caregiving. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted between August 2018 and January 2021 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. One hundred and fifty-eightdyads of patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers were recruited using purposive sampling. Experience of Caregiving Inventory was used to evaluate the caregiving experience. The caregivers were also assessed on socio-demographics, knowledge of illness, family functioning, coping, social support, general mental health, quality of life, and spiritual, religious, and personal beliefs. Patient socio-demographics and clinical variables were also assessed. A negative experience of caregiving was reported by caregivers of patients who had higher positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Impaired Communication, Roles, Affective Responsiveness, Affective Involvement, and General Functioning aspects of family functioning were associated with a negative experience of caregiving. Denial/blame and seeking social support as coping were also associated with a negative experience of caregiving. A negative experience of caregiving was significantly positively correlated with greater psychological distress and poorer quality of life. Greater inner peace was associated with a less negative experience of caregiving. Spiritual strength was associated with a more positive experience of caregiving. Knowledge of mental illness and caregiver social support were not significantly associated with the experience of caregiving. Experience of caregiving is a relevant construct, the understanding of which can help inform caregiver-directed interventions in the future. Specifically, family-based interventions, which include ameliorating patient symptomatology, improving the family environment, strengthening caregivers' coping strategies, attending to caregiver distress, and encouraging spirituality among caregivers, may lead to a less negative and more positive experience of caregiving; and a better quality of life for caregivers.

Attitude towards mental help-seeking, motivation, and economic resources in connection with positive, negative, and general psychopathological symptoms of schizophrenia: a pilot study of a psychoeducation program.

Schizophrenia is typically treated with medication as the first approach, but additional strategies are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of this treatment for better outcomes. However, it is crucial to explore methods, alongside medication, that promote a positive attitude towards seeking mental health support and alleviate symptom severity among non-institutionalized individuals of different age groups in Pakistan. Thus, this pilot study aimed to utilize a psychoeducation program to enhance patients' motivation and attitudes toward seeking treatment, decrease symptom severity, and investigate the role of financial factors in their illness journey. In this preliminary investigation, our focus was on individuals who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and were receiving treatment from various hospitals and primary care clinics. Following a thorough screening process, 255 participants met the eligibility criteria, and 220 completed the psychoeducation program. The study included both male and female participants, with 143 (56.08%) being men and 112 (43.82%) being women. Regarding marital status, 123 (48.24%) were single, 98 (38.43%) were married, and 34 (13.33%) were divorced widowers or widows. The age range of the respondents varied from 18 to 52 years, with a mean age of 35.45 and a standard deviation of 10.27. The results indicated a decrease in symptom severity following a 16-week psychoeducation program. The psychoeducation program significantly reduced the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathological symptoms among patients. Similarly, significant improvement was observed in patients' motivation toward treatment and they actively participated in treatment after getting psychoeducation about the treatment. Similarly, after the psychoeducation program significant improvement was seen in patients' attitudes towards help-seeking and perceived mental health functioning. In summary, the findings suggest that our psychoeducation program has the potential to positively impact the motivation and help-seeking attitudes of schizophrenia patients towards treatment. Moreover, there is a need for further exploration of psychoeducation programs for schizophrenia, particularly in countries facing economic challenges. This study paves the way for the development of an indigenous psychoeducation program tailored to Pakistani schizophrenia patients, with potential applicability for Urdu-speaking individuals. https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20210208003, identifier TCTR20210208003.

Efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao Pill combined with Western medicine in the treatment of schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis and Systematic review.

The efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao Pill combined with Western medicine in the treatment of schizophrenia are still inconclusive. This meta-analysis summarized relevant studies to compare the efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao Pill combined with Western medicine and Western medicine alone in the treatment of schizophrenia, aiming to provide guidance for clinical treatment. In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CQVIP, and CBM databases from the establishment of the databases to August 2023. The study proposed to include studies that reported combination of Xiaoyao Pill with Western medicine and Western medicine alone in the treatment of schizophrenia, excluding published literature, unpublished literature, literature with incomplete or inadequate information, animal experiments, literature reviews and systematic studies. Data were analyzed using Review manager 5.3. About 9 studies (6 RCTs and 3 case-control studies) were included in this meta-analysis. The sample size ranged from 60 to 128, with a total of 779 patients, including 395 in the combined treatment group and 384 in the control group. Pooled results showed that the total effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of Western medicine alone (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.50-11.83, P = .006). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) (-) (MD = -2.30, 95% CI: -3.72 ~ -0.89, P = .001) and PANSS (+) (MD = -2.60, 95% CI: -3.34 ~ -1.86, P < .00001) of combined treatment group were all significantly lower than that of Western medicine alone. Additionally, PRL levels of combined treatment group was significantly lower than that of Western medicine alone (MD = -28.78, 95% CI: -42.20 ~ -15.35, P < .0001). However, there was no significant difference in BPRS and total PANSS between combined treatment group and Western medicine alone group. Notably, pooled results showed that there was no significant difference in incidence of adverse events between combined treatment group and Western medicine alone group. The effective rate of Xiaoyao Pill combined with Western medicine in the treatment of schizophrenia is higher than that of Western medicine alone, which can effectively relieve the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and can significantly reduce the level of PRL. In the treatment of schizophrenia, clinicians can give priority to Xiaoyao Pill combined with Western medicine therapy.

Antipsychotic Effects of Celecoxib Add-On Haloperidol in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Previous studies have indicated abnormalities in the immune system, such as central nervous system inflammation and high levels of activating cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients. Celecoxib, a modulator of proinflammatory cytokines, as an adjunctive therapy add-on risperidone (a well-established atypical antipsychotic) and amisulpiride (a benzamide antipsychotic), had improved these patients significantly. Objectives: A trial was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of celecoxib add-on haloperidol, a classic antipsychotic that has been reported to have an immunomodulatory effect and mainly affects positive psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Methods: In a prospective, double-blind study, after a washout period, 49 patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either 15 - 30 mg/day haloperidol plus 400 mg/day of celecoxib or the same dose of haloperidol plus placebo for 5 weeks. Psychopathology was evaluated via the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS). The data were reported as mean ± standard deviation and frequency. An Independent t-test was carried out when comparing the data of these two groups for each week. The proportion comparison was carried out using the chi-square test. In terms of age, gender, marital and educational state, and duration or severity of disease or psychopathology and subtypes of schizophrenia, there were no significant differences. Results: Over 5 weeks, there was significantly greater improvement in the celecoxib group in scores on the total PANSS and on positive symptoms and general psychopathology subscales ([t = 2.89, P = 0.006], [t = 2.37, P = 0.022], and [t = 3.34, P = 0.002] respectively). Conclusions: Celecoxib is an efficient adjuvant agent in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Significant superiority of management with a modulator of proinflammatory cytokine, which balances immune responses over haloperidol alone, reconfirms the immune dysfunction and inflammation hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Interplay between childhood trauma, bodily self-disturbances, and clinical phenomena in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A network analysis

BackgroundBodily self-disturbances have long been considered central to schizophrenia. Exposure to childhood trauma has been linked to the development of both psychosis and bodily self-disturbances, yet little work has examined the role of bodily self-disturbances in the relationship between childhood trauma and schizophrenia symptomatology. This study uses network analysis to bridge this gap. MethodsNetworks were constructed to examine relationships between schizophrenia symptoms (Positive and Negative Symptom Scale; PANSS), bodily self-disturbances (Perceptual Aberration Scale; PAS), and self-reported exposure to childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Short-Form; CTQ-SF) in 152 people with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Shortest path and bridge analyses were conducted to assess the role of bodily self-disturbances in linking childhood trauma to schizophrenia symptomatology. Three networks were constructed: 1) PAS, childhood trauma, and PANSS sub-scale composites (positive, negative, general); 2) PAS, childhood trauma, and positive symptoms, 3) PAS, childhood trauma, and distress symptoms. ResultsShortest path analysis revealed that bodily self-disturbances were on the shortest path between childhood trauma and positive and general symptoms (Network 1), between trauma and hallucinations (Network 2), and between trauma and depression (Network 3). Bodily self-disturbances were also found to serve as a bridge between childhood trauma and positive symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly delusions and hallucinations. ConclusionsUsing a novel, data-driven approach, we showed that bodily self-disturbances play a key role in linking childhood trauma to positive and co-morbid affective symptoms of schizophrenia. Threat experiences (i.e., abuse) specifically relate to bodily self-disturbances and psychotic symptoms.

Kamin blocking is disrupted by low-dose ketamine in mice: Further implications for aberrant stimulus processing in schizophrenia.

Previous studies have shown that low doses of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, produce aberrantly strong internal representations of associatively activated but absent stimuli in humans and nonhuman animals, suggesting the validity of ketamine treatment as a preclinical model of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, including hallucinations and delusions. However, whether acute ketamine treatment also impairs the ability to ignore present but informationally redundant stimuli, which is another hallmark of schizophrenia, remains unclear. Accordingly, the present study investigated whether injections of low-dose ketamine attenuate Kamin blocking in an appetitive conditioning preparation in mice. Mice in the blocking group were initially trained with A+ conditioning (i.e., conditioned stimulus A paired with a sucrose solution), followed by compound AX+ training, before the conditioned responses to the cue X were tested in extinction. The animals in the control group received B+ training before the AX+ training. Half of the mice in each group received an injection of 16 mg/kg ketamine before each compound conditioning session and the extinction test, whereas the other half received saline. The results showed a reliable blocking effect in the saline-treated mice, whereas the blocking effect was absent in the ketamine-treated mice. Specifically, the absence of blocking was due to the ketamine-treated mice learning about the blocked cues. This finding further validates the use of low-dose ketamine as a preclinical model of schizophrenia. It also suggests a possible link between hallucination-like aberrant processing of absent events and a reduced ability to suppress attentional processing of task-irrelevant stimuli. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Natural Protoalkaloid Methyl-2-Amino-3-Methoxybenzoate (MAM) Alleviates Positive as well as Cognitive Symptoms in Rat and Mouse Schizophrenia Models.

The development of new antipsychotics with pro-cognitive properties and less side effects represents a priority in schizophrenia drug research. In this study, we present for the first time a preclinical exploration of the effects of the promising natural atypical antipsychotic Methyl-2-Amino-3- Methoxybenzoate (MAM), a brain-penetrable protoalkaloid from the seed of the plant Nigella damascena. Using animal models related to hyperdopaminergic activity, namely the pharmacogenetic apomorphine (D2/D1 receptor agonist)-susceptible (APO-SUS) rat model and pharmacologically induced mouse and rat models of schizophrenia, we found that MAM reduced gnawing stereotypy and climbing behaviours induced by dopaminergic agents. This predicts antipsychotic activity. In line, MAM antagonized apomorphine-induced c-Fos and NPAS4 mRNA levels in post-mortem brain nucleus accumbens and dorsolateral striatum of APO-SUS rats. Furthermore, phencyclidine (PCP, an NMDA receptor antagonist) and 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, a 5HT2A/2C receptor agonist) induced prepulse inhibition deficits, reflecting the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, which were rescued by treatment with MAM and atypical antipsychotics alike. Post-mortem brain immunostaining revealed that MAM blocked the strong activation of both PCP- and DOI-induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in a number of cortical areas. Finally, during a 28-day subchronic treatment regime, MAM did not induce weight gain, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia or hepato- and nephrotoxic effects, side effects known to be induced by atypical antipsychotics. MAM also did not show any cataleptic effects. In conclusion, its brain penetrability, the apparent absence of preclinical side effects, and its ability to antagonize positive and cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia make MAM an exciting new antipsychotic drug that deserves clinical testing.

Impaired emotional awareness is associated with childhood maltreatment exposure and positive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Evidence suggests that emotional awareness-the ability to identify and label emotions-may be impaired in schizophrenia and related to positive symptom severity. Exposure to childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for both low emotional awareness and positive symptoms. The current investigation examines associations between a performance-based measure of emotional awareness, positive symptom severity, and childhood maltreatment exposure in 44 individuals with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and 48 healthy comparison participants using the electronic Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (eLEAS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Patients demonstrated significant deficits in emotional awareness overall, which was true for both self and others. In patients, lower emotional awareness was significantly associated with more severe positive symptoms. Emotional awareness was significantly impaired in patients with schizophrenia with self-reported maltreatment exposure, relative to other groups. Severity of maltreatment was not significantly associated with emotional awareness or positive symptoms when looking continuously, and there was no significant indirect effect. These data suggest that emotional awareness impairments observed in schizophrenia may be exacerbated by exposure to childhood maltreatment, possibly putting individuals at greater risk for experiencing positive symptoms of psychosis.

Stress, Dopamine and the Development of Schizophrenia

Dopaminergic dysregulation and dysfunction have long been seen as the key factors of the onset of psychosis. The dopamine hypothesis postulates hyperactivity of subcortical dopamine release and hypoactivity of cortical dopamine transmission in schizophrenia, indicating the relationship between irregular dopamine activity and the development of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, psychological stressors affect the brain in multiple ways, including changing the structure of neurons and causing malfunction of the dopamine system. These changes are also critical in causing psychotic experiences. Despite there are abundant studies and findings investigating either the relationship between dopamine and schizophrenia, or the relationship between schizophrenia and stress, few of them have put these three concepts together in discussion. This paper aims at investigating how abnormal dopamine functions, stress and schizophrenia are related to each other, which helps generate a deeper and clearer understanding of the disease from a broader view. The relationship between inappropriate dopamine release and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is discussed, particularly talks about the dopamine transmission in striatal and cortical regions of the brain, it proceeds into an investigation of the association between stress and schizophrenia from both physiological and sociological scopes, and then summarizes the current ways of treating schizophrenia provided along with the future prospect in developing treatments for this disorder.

CLINICAL-PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

The aim: to determine the features of the clinical-psychopathological structure and severity of negative and positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia to improve diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.&#x0D; Materials and methods. 252 patients with negative symptoms (NS) in schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms (PS) in schizophrenia were examined. The research used a comprehensive approach, which consisted in the use of clinical-psychopathological, psychometric (PANSS scale) and statistical research methods.&#x0D; Results. Manifestations of positive symptoms in patients with NS in schizophrenia were mainly delineated by delusions of a minimal and weak level; minimal manifestations of delirium, unusual behavior and thought disorders; the predominance of patients with no disorders, minimal disorders and a weak level of disorders of hallucinatory behavior, excitement, ideas of grandeur, suspiciousness, and hostility. Manifestations of negative symptoms in patients with NS in schizophrenia were characterized by a predominance of medium and severe levels of blunted affect; moderate and average levels of emotional alienation; violation of abstract thinking of a weak and moderate level; average level of impaired fluency and spontaneity of speech; moderate communication impairment; passive-apathetic social detachment of the average level.&#x0D; Among patients with PS in schizophrenia, the manifestations of positive symptoms were mainly delineated by delusions of medium and strong levels of severity; moderate and pronounced manifestations of delirium; a moderate level of severity of thinking disorders and unusual behavior; predominance of moderate, medium and strong levels of expression of hallucinatory behavior, excitement, ideas of grandeur, suspicion and hostility. Manifestations of negative symptoms in patients with PS in schizophrenia were characterized by a predominance of a minimal level of expression of dulled affect, social exclusion and impaired fluency and spontaneity of speech; minimal and weak levels of emotional alienation; average level of communication disorders and abstract thinking.&#x0D; Conclusions. Features of the clinical-psychopathological structure and severity of negative and positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia were established. The obtained data can serve as diagnostic criteria for conducting differential diagnosis and choosing treatment strategies for patients with schizophrenia.

From gut to brain: A network model of intestinal permeability, inflammation, and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia.

Impaired intestinal permeability has recently been suggested as a possible source of chronic inflammation in schizophrenia, but its association with specific psychopathological features remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the interaction between intestinal permeability, inflammation, and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia using a network analysis approach. The study sample comprised 281 adults with schizophrenia (age 40.29 ± 13.65 years, 63.0 % males), enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study assessing intestinal permeability. We estimated the network with a Gaussian graphical model, incorporating scores from 14 individual items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), along with body mass index (BMI), and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels. We calculated strength centrality and expected influence and used bridge centrality statistics to identify the bridge nodes. Distinct but highly interconnected clusters emerged for positive and negative symptoms. The biological variables were closely associated with each other. LBP was positively linked with CRP and BMI, but only indirectly connected to psychopathology. CRP exhibited direct positive relationships with various PANSS items and bridged LBP and BMI with psychopathology. Bridge nodes included Conceptual Disorganisation (P2), Active Social Avoidance (G16), Suspiciousness/Persecution (P6), and CRP. These findings support the role of gut-derived inflammation as a mechanism underlying greater symptom severity in schizophrenia and emphasise the importance of addressing dietary habits not only to enhance physical health but also to contribute to improving psychotic symptoms.

Phenomenological assessment of the features of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

The purpose of the study is to assess the severity of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this category of patients.Material and methods. 252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia (main group) and 79 patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia (comparison group) were examined. A total of 331 patients with schizophrenia took part in the study. A comprehensive approach was used in the study, consisting of a combination of clinical-psychopathological, psychometric (SANS scale) and statistical research methods.Research results. Clinical-psychopathological characteristics of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia have been established, which consisted of the predominance of the residual form of schizophrenia; continuously progradient and episodic with an increasing defect of flow types; the onset of negative symptoms in the initial period. Specific features of the manifestation of negative symptoms in patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia have been determined, which consisted of the severity of attention disorders, anhedonia, abulia, and alogia. It has been detected that the phenomenology of negative symptoms in schizophrenia has a complex structure and is described by the presence of components of affective flattening (reduced expressiveness of speech, avoidance of eye contact), alogia (delayed responses, interrupted thoughts), abulia and apathy (reduced productivity and energy potential), anhedonia and antisociality (reduced activity in free time, sexual interests, the ability to feel intimacy and closeness) and the sphere of attention (reduced attentiveness in contact with others and during testing). Conclusions. As a result of the study, the peculiarities of the manifestation of negative symptoms in patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia have been determined, which can act as diagnostic criteria and predictors of the formation of negative symptoms during the differential diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia and can be taken into account when creating treatment and psycho-corrective programs aimed at reducing negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Metergoline Shares Properties with Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs Identified by Gene Expression Signature Screen

Novel approaches are required to find new treatments for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. This study utilised a combination of in vitro transcriptomics and in silico analysis with the BROAD Institute’s Connectivity Map to identify drugs that can be repurposed to treat psychiatric disorders. Human neuronal (NT2-N) cells were treated with a combination of atypical antipsychotic drugs commonly used to treat psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder), and differential gene expression was analysed. Biological pathways with an increased gene expression included circadian rhythm and vascular endothelial growth factor signalling, while the adherens junction and cell cycle pathways were transcriptionally downregulated. The Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis screen highlighted drugs that affect global gene expression in a similar manner to these psychiatric disorder treatments, including several other antipsychotic drugs, confirming the utility of this approach. The CMap screen specifically identified metergoline, an ergot alkaloid currently used to treat seasonal affective disorder, as a drug of interest. In mice, metergoline dose-dependently reduced MK-801- or methamphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity confirming the potential of metergoline to treat positive symptoms of schizophrenia in an animal model. Metergoline had no effects on prepulse inhibition deficits induced by MK-801 or methamphetamine. Taken together, metergoline appears a promising drug for further studies to be repurposed as a treatment for schizophrenia and possibly other psychiatric disorders.

Effects of Nicotine Administration in an Enriched Environment on the Behavior of Male MK-801-Exposed Rats.

Smoking is more common in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy populations. Some controversial hypotheses connect the disease with the high prevalence of smoking. Moreover, environmental factors affect the severity of the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The current study aimed to assess the effect of enriched environment (EE) and nicotine on the MK-801 animal model of schizophrenia. Male Wistar rat pups randomly received saline or MK-801 (dose:1 mg/kg) for five days from the sixth postnatal day (P) until the tenth. The pups were placed in EE or standard cages (SCs) after weaning (P21). Morris water maze (MWM) was used to assess spatial learning and memory. The rats received 0.6 mg/kg nicotine twice for three days at the end of the second month and were examined in an open-field box and three-chamber social interaction test. MK-801 rats' behaviors were the same as those of the saline rats when they were exposed to nicotine. No positive effects of EE were observed when the animals were exposed to nicotine. The results suggested that nicotine decreased schizophrenia-like symptoms and covered the positive effects of EE.

Pharmacological management of neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia: A narrative review.

Cognitive impairment are among the core features of schizophrenia, experienced by up to 75% of patients. Available treatment options for schizophrenia including dopamine antagonists and traditional antipsychotic medications have not been shown to confer significant benefits on cognitive deficits. Contrary to the focus on management of positive symptoms in schizophrenia, cognitive abilities are main predictor of independent living skills, functional abilities, employment, engagement in relapse prevention, and patients' subjective sense of well-being and quality of life. This review aims to provide a summary of recent literature on pharmacological options for the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. We conducted a literature search of studies from 2011 to 2021 across four electronic databases including PubMed, PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and Embase. Human studies using a pharmacological treatment for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia were included. Fifty-eight eligible publications, representing 11 pharmacological classes, were included in this review. Major limitations involved small sample size, methodological limitations as well as heterogeneity of participants and outcome measures. Overall evidence remains inconclusive for any pharmacological classes studied for the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Methodological limitations in a majority of the studies rendered their findings preliminary. We further discuss possible explanations for these findings that could guide future research.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

252 patients with negative symptoms (NS) in schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms in schizophrenia were examined. To establish the diagnostic criteria of NS in schizophrenia, a complex approach was used, consisting of a combination of clini

Clinical and anamnestic characteristics of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia

252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia were examined. A comprehensive approach was used, consisting of a combination of clinical and anamnestic, clinical and psychopathological and statistical research methods. The assessment of clinical and psychopathological features in patients with schizophrenia included the analysis of the distribution of patients according to the severity of forms, type and manifestations of schizophrenia, duration and progressivity of the disease and episodes, number of relapses, hospitalizations and features of leading symptom complexes. Features of the clinical picture of patients with negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia were determined, which can use as diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis and selection of treatment strategies for patients with schizophrenia Key words: negative symptoms, positive symptoms, schizophrenia, clinical characteristics, clinical and anamnestic analysis