Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder, in which the prognosis for some patients is poor. The etiology and effective treatments for AN have not been established. We examined morphometric ...changes in the brain of AN and clarified how the changes were associated with symptoms and pathophysiology. We enrolled 52 participants: 7 with the restrictive type of AN, 13 with the binge-eating/purging type, 3 with eating disorder not otherwise specified, and 29 healthy controls. Participants underwent T1-weighted MRI. Group differences between patients and controls in gray matter volume (GMV) were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. Age and body mass index (BMI) were considered covariates. Correlations between regional GMVs and drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction were examined. Patients had decreased GMV in the superior/middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG), pulvinar, and superior frontal gyrus after correction for age and BMI, and in the STG/MTG, middle frontal gyrus, and cingulate after correction for age. A correlational group difference was detected for body dissatisfaction and GMV in the STG. Our findings suggest that decreased GMV in the STG is related to body dissatisfaction that could come from impaired visuospatial perception, together with GMV decreases in several regions, which may be involved in development of AN.
•Several brain regions showed decreases in gray matter volume in anorexia nervosa.
•The superior temporal gyrus is related to body dissatisfaction.
•We are the first to have found decreased gray matter volume in the pulvinar.
•The temporal gyrus and pulvinar are involved in the development of anorexia nervosa.
Rationale
Japanese researchers have recently conducted studies using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to help diagnose psychiatric disorders based on changes in brain activity. However, the ...influence of psychotropic drugs on NIRS measurements has not been clarified.
Objective
To assess the effects of sedative antidepressants on prefrontal cortex activity in healthy subjects using NIRS in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Methods
Nineteen healthy males received nocturnal doses of mirtazapine 15 mg, trazodone 25 mg, or placebo for eight consecutive days in rotation, with a washout period of more than 1 week between each rotation. Subjects performed a verbal fluency task during NIRS on a total of seven occasions during the study period: more than a week prior to receiving the first dose of the first medication; and on days 2 and 9 of each rotation. The number of words correctly generated during the task (behavioral performance) was also recorded. Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) scores were determined each day.
Results
Mirtazapine 15 mg significantly increased oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration change in NIRS on day 9, compared to trazodone 25 mg and placebo. Mirtazapine 15 mg significantly increased SSS on day 2, compared to the other conditions. No significant differences in behavioral performance were observed.
Conclusions
Administration of mirtazapine for eight consecutive days affected oxy-Hb changes on NIRS. This result indicates that researchers should consider how certain types of antidepressant could influence brain function when the brain activity of patients with psychiatric disorders is assessed.
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. MAGI2, a relatively large gene (∼1.5 Mbps) that maps to chromosome ...7q21, is involved in recruitment of neurotransmitter receptors such as AMPA- and NMDA-type glutamate receptors. A genetic association study designed to evaluate the association between MAGI2 and cognitive performance or schizophrenia has not been conducted. In this case-control study, we examined the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations in MAGI2 and risk for schizophrenia in a large Japanese sample and explored the potential relationships between variations in MAGI2 and aspects of human cognitive function related to glutamate activity. Based on the result of first schizophrenia genome-wide association study in a Japanese population (JGWAS), we selected four independent SNPs and performed an association study using a large independent Japanese sample set (cases 1624, controls 1621). Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was used to evaluate executive function in 114 cases and 91 controls. We found suggestive evidence for genetic association of common SNPs within MAGI2 locus and schizophrenia in Japanese population. Furthermore in terms of association between MAGI2 and cognitive performance, we observed that genotype effect of rs2190665 on WCST score was significant (p = 0.034) and rs4729938 trended toward significance (p = 0.08). In conclusion, although we could not detect strong genetic evidence for association of common variants in MAGI2 and increased schizophrenia risk in a Japanese population, these SNPs may increase risk of cognitive impairment in schizophrenic patients.
Using a knock-out mouse model, it was shown that NETO1 is a critical component of the NMDAR complex, and that loss of Neto1 leads to impaired hippocampal long term potentiation and ...hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Moreover, hemizygosity of NETO1 was shown to be associated with autistic-like behavior in humans.
We examined the association between schizophrenia and the neuropilin and tolloid-like 1 gene (NETO1). First, we selected eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the NETO1 locus, based on the Japanese schizophrenia genome wide association study (JGWAS) results and previously conducted association studies. These SNPs were genotyped in the replication sample comprised of 963 schizophrenic patients and 919 healthy controls. We also examined the effect of associated SNPs on scores in the Continuous Performance Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Keio version (schizophrenic patients 107, healthy controls 104).
There were no significant allele-wise and haplotype-wise associations in the replication analysis after Bonferroni correction. However, in meta-analysis (JGWAS and replication dataset) three association signals were observed (rs17795324: p = 0.028, rs8098760: p = 0.017, rs17086492: p = 0.003). These SNPs were followed up but we could not detect the allele-specific effect on cognitive performance measured by the Continuous performance test (CPT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting test (WCST).
We did not detect evidence for the association of NETO1 with schizophrenia in the Japanese population. Common variants within the NETO1 locus may not increase the genetic risk for schizophrenia in the Japanese population. Additionally, common variants investigated in the current study did not affect cognitive performance, as measured by the CPT and WCST.
Objectives This study investigated what clinical and sociodemographic factors affected Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) factor scores of patients with schizophrenia to evaluate parameters or items ...of the WCST. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Patients with schizophrenia from three hospitals participated. Participants Participants were recruited from July 2009 to August 2011. 131 Japanese patients with schizophrenia (84 men and 47 women, 43.5±13.8 years (mean±SD)) entered and completed the study. Participants were recruited in the study if they (1) met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia; (2) were physically healthy and (3) had no mood disorders, substance abuse, neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy or mental retardation. We examined their basic clinical and sociodemographic factors (sex, age, education years, age of onset, duration of illness, chlorpromazine equivalent doses and the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores). Primary and secondary outcome measures All patients carried out the WCST Keio version. Five indicators were calculated, including categories achieved (CA), perseverative errors in Milner (PEM) and Nelson (PEN), total errors (TE) and difficulties of maintaining set (DMS). From the principal component analysis, we identified two factors (1 and 2). We assessed the relationship between these factor scores and clinical and sociodemographic factors, using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Factor 1 was mainly composed of CA, PEM, PEN and TE. Factor 2 was mainly composed of DMS. The factor 1 score was affected by age, education years and the PANSS negative scale score. The factor 2 score was affected by duration of illness. Conclusions Age, education years, PANSS negative scale score and duration of illness affected WCST factor scores in patients with schizophrenia. Using WCST factor scores may reduce the possibility of type I errors due to multiple comparisons.
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:
To systematically review the effects of humour‐based interventions as an add‐on intervention to standard care ...for people with schizophrenia.
Background
Humour‐based interventions are defined as any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression, or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity ...of life's situations. Humour‐based interventions can be implemented in different settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and day care centres. They have been posed as an adjunct to usual care for people with schizophrenia, but a summary of the evidence is lacking.
Objectives
To examine the effects of humour‐based interventions as an add‐on intervention to standard care for people with schizophrenia.
Search methods
On 31 July 2019 and 10 February 2021 we searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's study‐based register of trials, which is based on CENTRAL, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.Gov, Embase, ISRCTN, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and WHO ICTRP.
Selection criteria
We included all randomised controlled trials comparing humour‐based interventions with active controls, other psychological interventions, or standard care for people with schizophrenia. We excluded studies fulfilling our prespecified selection criteria but without useable data from further quantitative synthesis.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently inspected citations, selected studies, extracted data and appraised study quality, following the guidance from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. For binary outcomes we calculated risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For continuous outcomes we calculated the mean differences (MDs) and their 95% CIs. We assessed risks of bias for included studies and created summary of findings tables using the GRADE approach.
Main results
We included three studies in this review for qualitative synthesis, although one study did not report any relevant outcomes. We therefore include two studies (n = 96) in our quantitative synthesis. No data were available on the following prespecified primary outcomes: clinically‐important change in general mental state, clinically‐important change in negative symptoms, clinically‐important change in overall quality of life, and adverse effects. As compared with active control, humour‐based interventions may not improve the average endpoint score of a general mental state scale (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score: MD −1.70, 95% CI −17.01 to 13.61; 1 study, 30 participants; very low certainty of evidence); positive symptoms (PANSS positive symptom score: MD 0.00, 95% CI −2.58 to 2.58; 1 study, 30 participants; low certainty of evidence), negative symptoms (PANSS negative symptom score: MD −0.70, 95% CI −4.22 to 2.82; 1 study, 30 participants; very low certainty of evidence) and anxiety (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): MD −2.60, 95% CI −5.76 to 0.56; 1 study, 30 participants; low certainty of evidence). Due to the small sample size, we remain uncertain about the effect of humour‐based interventions on leaving the study early as compared with active control (no event, 1 study, 30 participants; very low certainty of evidence). On the other hand, humour‐based interventions may reduce depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): MD −6.20, 95% CI −12.08 to −0.32; 1 study, 30 participants; low certainty of evidence). Compared with standard care, humour‐based interventions may not improve depressive symptoms (BDI second edition: MD 0.80, 95% CI −2.64 to 4.24; 1 study, 59 participants; low certainty of evidence). We are uncertain about the effect of humour‐based interventions on leaving the study early for any reason compared with standard care (risk ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.80; 1 study, 66 participants; very low certainty of evidence).
Authors' conclusions
We are currently uncertain whether the evidence supports the use of humour‐based interventions in people with schizophrenia. Future research with rigorous and transparent methodology investigating clinically important outcomes is warranted.
There are two possible ways to conceptualize the term "insomnia": insomnia disorder and insomnia symptoms, which are often poorly reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the proportion of ...randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that mention insomnia in their abstracts and cannot distinguish between insomnia disorder and insomnia symptoms from the abstract. We included RCT and SR articles that included the word "insomnia" in the methods or results sections of their structured abstracts, published after 2010. We searched PubMed using English language restrictions on 10 March 2022. From 1580 PubMed articles, we obtained 100 random samples each for eligible RCTs and SRs. The unclear insomnia concept accounted for 88% of the RCT abstracts and 94% of the SR abstracts. Among the RCT and SR abstracts with unclearness, the concept of insomnia was unclear in 27% of RCTs and 57% of SRs after investigating the full text. The concept of insomnia has been unclear in many RCTs and SRs abstracts. The authors of RCTs and SRs are recommended to state "insomnia disorder" or "insomnia symptoms" in the methods and results sections of their abstracts.
Background:Schizophrenia is a relatively common disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of about 1%. Family history is the most important risk factor for schizophrenia, consistent with a genetic ...contribution to its etiology. Recent human genetic studies reported that some common variants located within BCL9 are associated with schizophrenia in the Chinese population, but not associated with bipolar disorder in the Caucasian population. Methods: Single nucleotide variant (SNP) prioritization sample was comprised of 575 patients with schizophrenia and 564 healthy controls with no personal or family history of psychiatric illness. For SNP association analysis, we used an independent Japanese sample set (replication sample) comprising 1464 cases and 1171 controls. For the analysis of cognitive performance, we investigated 115 cases and 87 controls using Continuous Performance Test (CPT-IP) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Keio version (WCST). Meta-selectanalysis was performed using a combined Japanese total sample (N=3735) and a Chinese sample from a previous study. Results: In the replication sample set, we did not detect any association in 2 SNPs (rs672607 and rs10494252) and schizophrenia. Meta-analysis of rs672607 showed significant association (p-value 0.012, odds ratio 0.855). There was a significant (p<0.01) difference between the A/A and G carrier group of rs672607 in CPT mean d' (p=0.0092). Conclusions: We were able to detect evidence for an association between rs672607 in BCL9 and schizophrenia in the meta-analysis of Japanese and Chinese populations. Additionally, this common variant may affect cognitive performance, as measured by the CPT-IP in schizophrenia patients.
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