Abstract
Background and aim: One of the most direct ways to get insight into the functional organization of the human brain is to measure the BOLD-signal with fMRI during rest. This signal is not a random signal but is highly organized in several functional networks (RSN's) believed to be a fundamental function of the brain. Very few studies have investigated RSN's in Antipsychotic Naïve First Episode patients (ANFE). In this study we wanted to investigate the potential of using the RSN’s as a biomarker for schizophrenia and for effect of treatment in ANFE patients. Especially, we wanted to test for group differences in the directed effort network (DEN) and the representational network (RN); networks suggested to play a key role in the development of Schizophrenia.
Materials and methods: To study this we designed a case control study with six weeks follow up after intervention with amisulpride. All subjects were scanned and re-scanned with 10 min resting state fMRI. The analysis contains 50 patients and 50 controls at baseline and 35 patients and 35 controls at follow up. The methods used to measure the functional connectivity are Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations (ALFF), a seed-based approach and Independent Component Analysis (ICA).
Results: Using ICA we were able to detect several significant group differences at baseline in areas mapping out the DEN and RN e.g. frontal pole (corr. P = 0,0046) and anterior cingulate gyrus (corr. P = 0,011). In these areas patients showed a higher connectivity compared to controls. The connectivity within the directed effort network and the representational network correlated significantly with negative symptoms but not with positive and general symptoms.
Conclusion: The fact that we are able to detect significant differences between our groups at this early stage of the disease is promising for the potential of using the RSN’s as a biomarker for schizophrenia. The group differences within the DEN and RN confirms our hypothesis of these networks playing a key role in the development of schizophrenia.
Literature:
Lui et al. Arch Gen Psychiatr 2010;67(8):783-92.
Williamson et Allmann. Front Hum Neurosci 2012;vol. 6:184.
Théberge et al: Am J Psychiatr 2002;159(11):1944-6.
Materials and methods: To study this we designed a case control study with six weeks follow up after intervention with amisulpride. All subjects were scanned and re-scanned with 10 min resting state fMRI. The analysis contains 50 patients and 50 controls at baseline and 35 patients and 35 controls at follow up. The methods used to measure the functional connectivity are Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations (ALFF), a seed-based approach and Independent Component Analysis (ICA).
Results: Using ICA we were able to detect several significant group differences at baseline in areas mapping out the DEN and RN e.g. frontal pole (corr. P = 0,0046) and anterior cingulate gyrus (corr. P = 0,011). In these areas patients showed a higher connectivity compared to controls. The connectivity within the directed effort network and the representational network correlated significantly with negative symptoms but not with positive and general symptoms.
Conclusion: The fact that we are able to detect significant differences between our groups at this early stage of the disease is promising for the potential of using the RSN’s as a biomarker for schizophrenia. The group differences within the DEN and RN confirms our hypothesis of these networks playing a key role in the development of schizophrenia.
Literature:
Lui et al. Arch Gen Psychiatr 2010;67(8):783-92.
Williamson et Allmann. Front Hum Neurosci 2012;vol. 6:184.
Théberge et al: Am J Psychiatr 2002;159(11):1944-6.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 8 Oct 2014 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Oct 2014 |
| Event | Forskningsdag 2014, Glostrup Hospital - Glostrup, Denmark Duration: 8 Oct 2014 → 8 Oct 2014 |
Conference
| Conference | Forskningsdag 2014, Glostrup Hospital |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Glostrup |
| Period | 08/10/2014 → 08/10/2014 |