Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as a potential biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a biomarker of schizophrenia and, more specifically, as a biomarker of cognitive recovery. Evidence collected in this review indicates that BDNF is relevant in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and could play a role as a marker of clinical response. BDNF has been shown to play a positive role as a marker in antipsychotic treatment, and it has been demonstrated that typical antipsychotics decrease BDNF levels while atypical antipsychotics maintain or increase serum BDNF levels. Furthermore, BDNF levels have been associated with severe cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia. Consequently, BDNF has been proposed as a candidate target of strategies to aid the cognitive recovery process. There is some evidence suggesting that BDNF could be mediating neurobiological processes underlying cognitive recovery. Thus, serum BDNF levels seem to be involved in some synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission processes. Additionally, serum BDNF levels significantly increased in schizophrenia subjects after neuroplasticity-based cognitive training. If positive replications of those findings are published in the future then serum BDNF levels could be definitely postulated as a peripheral biomarker for the effects of intensive cognitive training or any sort of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia. All in all, the current consideration of BDNF as a biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia is promising but still premature

Childhood trauma and the rs1360780 SNP of FKBP5 gene in psychosis: a replication in two general population samples

FKBP5 gene interacts with childhood trauma in the risk for several stress-related psychiatric disorders including subclinical psychosis. The present study examined whether variation at the rs1360780 SNP of FKBP5 gene moderated the association between childhood abuse and psychotic experiences. The discovery sample included 437 individuals and the replication sample included 305, all drawn from the general population. In both samples, a significant gene-environment interaction effect was detected indicating that T allele homozygotes of the FKBP5 gene scored significantly higher on positive PEs after exposure to childhood abuse compared to CC carriers.Ministry of Science and Innovation. SAF2008-05674-C03-00 SAF2008-05674-C03-03 PI12/00018 PNSD2008-I090 PNSD2009-I019. Institute of Health Carlos III CIBER of Mental Health (CIBERSAM) Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca, DIUE, Generalitat de Catalunya 2014SGR1636 ERA-NET NEURON PIM2010-ERN-00642 Fundacio Caixa Castello-Bancaixa P1.1B2010-40 P1.1B2011-4

Psychosis-inducing effects of cannabis are related to both childhood abuse and COMT genotypes

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the association between childhood abuse, cannabis use and psychotic experiences (PEs) was moderated by the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene. METHOD: Psychotic experiences (PEs), childhood abuse, cannabis use and COMT Val158Met genotypes were assessed in 533 individuals from the general population. Data were analysed hierarchically by means of multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: Childhood abuse showed a significant main effect on both positive (β = 0.09; SE = 0.04; P = 0.047) and negative PEs (β = 0.11; SE = 0.05; P = 0.038). A significant three-way interaction effect was found among childhood abuse, cannabis use and the COMT gene on positive PEs (β = -0.30; SE = 0.11; P = 0.006). This result suggests that COMT genotypes and cannabis use only influenced PE scores among individuals exposed to childhood abuse. Furthermore, exposure to childhood abuse and cannabis use increased PE scores in Val carriers. However, in individuals exposed to childhood abuse but who did not use cannabis, PEs increased as a function of the Met allele copies of the COMT gene. CONCLUSION: Cannabis use after exposure to childhood abuse may have opposite effects on the risk of PEs, depending on the COMT genotypes providing evidence for a qualitative interaction. Val carriers exposed to childhood abuse are vulnerable to the psychosis-inducing effects of cannabis

Intentos de autolisis en pacientes bipolares I y II

El trastorno bipolar II, que se caracteriza por episodios depresivos graves y períodos de tiipomanía moderados que se suceden de forma espontánea, parece ser algo más que una forma leve de psicosis maníaco-depresiva. Los estudios anteriores indican que es una categoría de diagnóstico válida, diferente del transtorno bipolar I en aspectos genéticos, biológicos, clínicos y farmacológicos (Cassano et al., 1992; Menchón et al., 1993). Por estas razones, se ha distinguido como una entidad separada en el DSM-IV. No obstante, entre los diversos estudios que tratan aspectos importantes del trastorno bipolar II -como la edad de aparición, la frecuencia de los episodios y el comportamiento suicida- aparecen algunas diferencias. Ei riesgo de suicidio inherente a ambos subtipos es un tema especialmente controvertido (Lester, 1993). Algunos estudios atribuyen índices de intentos de suicidio al trastorno bipolar II. (Dunner et al., 1976; Stallone et al., 1980), pero otros no (Cassano et al., 1992; Coryell et al., 1987; Perugi et al., 1988). Además en diversos estudios sobre suicidio consumado se ha observado que los pacientes con trastorno bipolar II están sobrerrepresentados en el grupo de víctimas suicidas consecutivas (Rihmer et al., 1995). El objetivo de este estudio ha sido el de comprobar las características clínicas de los pacientes bipolares en comparación con el tipo bipolar I clásico (especialmente en relación a la conducta suicida)

Delusional disorder: no gender differences in age at onset, suicidal ideation, or suicidal behavior

Objective: To investigate gender differences in age at onset, psychopathology, and suicidal behavior rates in delusional disorder (DD). Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of 97 patients with DD. Demographic and clinical data at baseline were recorded. Gender differences were investigated by applying analysis of covariance, using age at onset and age at first psychiatric consultation as dependent variables, comorbid depression and gender as between-subject factors, and employment status, social support, and DD types as covariates. Results: Seventy-six percent of the patients were women. The average age at onset was 48.76±12.67 years, mean age at first psychiatric consultation was 54.13±13.67 years, and men were more likely to be employed than women (p = 0.041). Despite the earlier age at onset and at first psychiatric consultation in men, these differences tended to disappear when adjusted for potential confounders. There were no significant gender differences in depressive comorbidity, presence of suicidal ideation and behavior, or compliance rates at follow-up. Conclusions: Our findings could not confirm that male and female DD patients differ in age at onset, age at first psychiatric consultation, or suicidal ideation and behavior, even after controlling for potential confounders

Letter to editor: Low Birth Weight And Adult Depression: Eliciting Their Association

Theories supporting fetal origins of adult health and disease are nowadays widely accepted regarding some psychiatric conditions. However, whether genetic or environmental factors disrupting fetal growth might constitute a rick factor for depressive and/or anxious psychopathology remains still controversial