Glutamatergic And GABAergic Disturbances In Individuals At Ultra-high Risk Of Psychosis: Implications For Clinical And Functional Outcome
Poster C136, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Christina Wenneberg1,2,4, Birte Yding Glenthøj2,3, Brian Villumsen Broberg2,3, Louise Birkedal Glenthøj1,2, Tina Dam Kristensen1,2, Kristine Krakauer1,2,4, Egill Rostrup4, Merete Nordentoft1,2; 1Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, 2Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, 3Centre for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, 4Functional Imaging Unit
The CAARMS criteria identifies individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis (UHR) of which app. 30% develop psychosis within 2 years. These criteria require loss of function and a genetic predisposition or attenuated psychotic symptoms. Recent studies indicate that fewer UHR individuals have transition to psychosis, hence stratification of UHR individuals into subgroups (transition, non-remission, and remission) has been suggested. The search for biomarkers may prove significant for short-term identification of UHR individuals (remission/non-remission). On a long-term basis biomarkers might give the opportunity to delay or prevent psychotic episodes. Disturbances of the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA have long been suspected to be involved in the pathophysiology of psychosis. These disorders have also found been found in people at UHR, making it a promising area for early detection. Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are present prior to the onset of psychosis, and may be linked to perturbed glutamate and GABA function. Data suggest that this link is already present in UHR states. We expect to find baseline alterations of glutamate and GABA of UHR individuals compared to healthy controls, perturbed glutamatergic function to predict worse clinical outcome and progression of illness, and that non-remission and remission of UHR symptoms correlates to baseline levels of glutamate as well as GABAergic and glutamatergic disturbances correlating to impaired cognitive functioning. Results: Data analysis have not yet been performed, but preliminary data are expected to be ready for the conference. As of April 2016 54 UHR and 18 healthy controls have undergone MRS scans.
Topic Area: Ultra High Risk / Prodromal Research