Smell identification impairment as a potential risk factor for transition of an at-risk mental state to psychosis.
Poster C111, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Magdalena Kotlicka-Antczak1, Agnieszka Pawełczyk1, Michał Karbownik1, Tomasz Pawełczyk1, Natalia Żurner2, Urban-Kowalczyk Małgorzata1; 1Medical University of Łódź, 2Central Clinical Hospital of Łódź
OBJECTIVE: The presence of olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia is widely documented. However, few studies have addressed the potential role of olfactory impairments as a marker of schizophrenia risk status. The objective of the study was to identify the relationship between olfactory identification (OI) ability as well OI performance, according to their hedonic attributes, and the probability of conversion to psychosis in individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS). METHODS: A group of 81 individuals meeting the ARMS criteria according to the Comprehensive Assessment of At risk Mental State (CAARMS) were administered with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) at baseline. The hedonic attributes of odorants were normatively established according to the UPSIT outlines. Participants were followed up for transition to psychosis, which was determined on the basis of the CAARMS criteria for psychosis threshold. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 36.1 (±27.5) months with a conversion rate of 24.7%. Converters to psychosis demonstrated a significantly smaller capacity for the identification of pleasant odorants ( p<0.0001), while no differences in the OI of unpleasant or neutral odours were observed (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings imply that the impaired identification of pleasant odorants may be a risk factor for the transition of an ARMS into psychotic disorder, and highlights the need for further research of OI in “at-risk” cohorts.
Topic Area: Ultra High Risk / Prodromal Research