Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 15333

Special Issue Editor

Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology and Research Institute, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: psychopathology; psychological assessment; neurobiology; neuroimaging; genetics; immunology; DSM; mental illness; treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Novel diagnostic biomarkers, emerging from structural, functional neuro-imaging and magnetic-resonance spectroscopy, will be compared in terms of their prediction value with other diagnostic tests, such as genetic, immune-biological, and psychomotor measures. In this Special Issue, we will address the incremental validity of those methods in the context of complex multimodal and machine learning modelling of the signatures of mental disorder, and we will be particularly focused on the relevance of those biomarkers for early detection of psychosis, direction of new treatment strategies, and monitoring of their effect.

Prof. Dr. Drozdstoi Stoyanov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Neuro-imaging
  • Machine learning
  • Bio-markers
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychosis

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 1187 KiB  
Article
White Matter Microstructural Differences between Hallucinating and Non-Hallucinating Schizophrenia Spectrum Patients
by Justyna Beresniewicz, Alexander R. Craven, Kenneth Hugdahl, Else-Marie Løberg, Rune Andreas Kroken, Erik Johnsen and Renate Grüner
Diagnostics 2021, 11(1), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010139 - 19 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2511
Abstract
The relation between auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) and white matter has been studied, but results are still inconsistent. This inconsistency may be related to having only a single time-point of AVH assessment in many studies, not capturing that AVH severity fluctuates over time. [...] Read more.
The relation between auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) and white matter has been studied, but results are still inconsistent. This inconsistency may be related to having only a single time-point of AVH assessment in many studies, not capturing that AVH severity fluctuates over time. In the current study, AVH fluctuations were captured by utilizing a longitudinal design and using repeated (Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale) PANSS questionnaire interviews over a 12 month period. We used a Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging (MR DTI) sequence and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to explore white matter differences between two subtypes of schizophrenia patients; 44 hallucinating (AVH+) and 13 non-hallucinating (AVH-), compared to 13 AVH- matched controls and 44 AVH+ matched controls. Additionally, we tested for hemispheric fractional anisotropy (FA) asymmetry between the groups. Significant widespread FA-value reduction was found in the AVH+ group in comparison to the AVH- group. Although not significant, the extracted FA-values for the control group were in between the two patient groups, for all clusters. We also found a significant difference in FA-asymmetry between the AVH+ and AVH- groups in two clusters, with significantly higher leftward asymmetry in the AVH- group. The current findings suggest a possible qualitative difference in white matter integrity between AVH+ and AVH- patients. Strengths and limitations of the study are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2478 KiB  
Article
The Route to Autism Spectrum Diagnosis in Pediatric Practice in Bulgaria
by Ivan Ivanov, Iliyana Pacheva, Elena Timova, Ralitsa Iordanova, Fani Galabova, Katerina Gaberova, Aneliya Petkova, Vasil Kotetarov, Margarita Panova, Nikolay Tonchev and Lauren Franz
Diagnostics 2021, 11(1), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010106 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2026
Abstract
Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) before the age of three years is a challenge. Analyzing the present practice may help reaching that goal. Aim: To investigate developmental abnormalities and diagnostic pathway of ASD patients in pediatric practice. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of [...] Read more.
Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) before the age of three years is a challenge. Analyzing the present practice may help reaching that goal. Aim: To investigate developmental abnormalities and diagnostic pathway of ASD patients in pediatric practice. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of 192 children aged 13 months to 17 years 11 months (average 4 years 9 months), investigated in an outpatient and hospital setting from January 2015 to June 2018 by a semi-structured history and clinical examination, and diagnosed with ASD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Results: Behavioral peculiarities were detected in the history of the first two years of life in 74.8% of the subjects. The first developmental abnormalities were noticed by the parents at ages from 8 to 36 months (mean 15.6 months) and were predominantly in speech (in 94.6%) and non-verbal communication (11.3%). Developmental regression was reported in 42.1% of the patients occurring between the ages of 6 and 50 months (mean 17.9 months), affecting most commonly speech (88.4% of cases), non-verbal communication (29.2%), and behavior (12.8%). By history, the first manifestations of ASD were noticed at ages from 8 months to 84 months (mean 18.5 months), and were disorders of expressive speech (in 66.7% of cases), receptive speech (in 45.8%), non-verbal communication (35.4%), behavior (27.6%), play (8.9%), socialization (5.7%), and joint attention (2.1%). The most common motive for specialized consultation was delay in language development—in 84.6% of children. The age of ASD diagnosis varied between 12 and 132 months (mean 39.7 months), and the time period between first ASD manifestations and diagnosis was in the range of 0 to 79 months (mean 23.3 months). Many symptoms of abnormal social communication, unnoticed by parents, were detected objectively in more than 95% of the cases—absent or rare spontaneous or reciprocal smile; lack of sharing of interest or affect; abnormal eye contact; lack of finger pointing; lack of gaze to a pointed object; poor facial expressions; lack of imaginary play, etc. Conclusions: Almost two years are needed for diagnosing abnormal development in other domains besides speech in ASD patients. Diagnosis before the age of three years can be achieved by focusing parents’ and pediatricians’ attention on social communication and behavior in patients with speech delay or developmental regression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1308 KiB  
Article
Type 17 Immune Response Facilitates Progression of Inflammation and Correlates with Cognition in Stable Schizophrenia
by Milica M. Borovcanin, Slavica Minic Janicijevic, Ivan P. Jovanovic, Nevena M. Gajovic, Milena M. Jurisevic and Nebojsa N. Arsenijevic
Diagnostics 2020, 10(11), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10110926 - 10 Nov 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Dysregulation of the type 17 immune pathway has already been considered in schizophrenia and we previously measured decreased sera values of interleukin (IL)-17 in early stages. We further explored the possible correlation of IL-17 systemic levels with proinflammatory cytokines and cognitive scores and [...] Read more.
Dysregulation of the type 17 immune pathway has already been considered in schizophrenia and we previously measured decreased sera values of interleukin (IL)-17 in early stages. We further explored the possible correlation of IL-17 systemic levels with proinflammatory cytokines and cognitive scores and additionally analyzed the percentage of IL-17 producing lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with stable schizophrenia. We included 27 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (F20), after a three-month stable depot antipsychotic therapy (risperidone or paliperidone) and 18 healthy control subjects. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia and the Montreal-Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were conducted. Sera concentrations of IL-17, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and soluble ST2 receptor (sST2) were measured. Flow cytometry and Natural Killer (NK) and T cell analyses were done in 10 patients and 10 healthy controls. Moderate positive correlation was established between IL-17 and TNF-α (r = 0.640; p = 0.001), IL-17 and IL-6 (r = 0.514; p = 0.006), IL-17 and sST2 (r = 0.394; p = 0.042). Furthermore, a positive correlation between the serum levels of IL-17 and MoCA scores was observed, especially with visuospatial and executive functioning, as well as language functioning and delayed recall (p < 0.05). Significantly higher percentage of IL-17 producing CD56+ NK cells was measured in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia in remission vs. healthy individuals (p = 0.001). The percentage of CD4+ T cells and CD4+ T cells that produce IL-17 was significantly increased in patients (p = 0.001). This study revealed the involvement of innate type 17 immune response in the progression of inflammation and this could be related to cognitive functioning in stable schizophrenia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 315 KiB  
Article
Diagnosing Organic Causes of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Findings from a One-Year Cohort of the Freiburg Diagnostic Protocol in Psychosis (FDPP)
by Dominique Endres, Miriam Matysik, Bernd Feige, Nils Venhoff, Tina Schweizer, Maike Michel, Sophie Meixensberger, Kimon Runge, Simon J. Maier, Kathrin Nickel, Karl Bechter, Horst Urbach, Katharina Domschke and Ludger Tebartz van Elst
Diagnostics 2020, 10(9), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10090691 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4416
Abstract
Introduction: Secondary schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) have clearly identifiable causes. The Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Freiburg has continued to expand its screening practices to clarify the organic causes of SSDs. This retrospective analysis was carried out to analyze [...] Read more.
Introduction: Secondary schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) have clearly identifiable causes. The Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Freiburg has continued to expand its screening practices to clarify the organic causes of SSDs. This retrospective analysis was carried out to analyze whether a comprehensive organic diagnostic procedure could be informative in patients with SSDs. Methods and Participants: The “Freiburg Diagnostic Protocol in Psychosis” (FDPP) included basic laboratory analyses (e.g., thyroid hormones), metabolic markers, pathogens, vitamin status, different serological autoantibodies, rheumatic/immunological markers (e.g., complement factors), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) basic and antineuronal antibody analyses, as well as cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). The findings of 76 consecutive patients with SSDs (55 with paranoid–hallucinatory; 14 with schizoaffective; 4 with hebephrenic; and 1 each with catatonic, acute polymorphic psychotic, and substance-induced psychotic syndromes) were analyzed. Results: Overall, vitamin and trace element deficiency was identified in 92%. Complement factor analyses detected reduced C3 levels in 11%. Immunological laboratory alterations were detected in 76%. CSF analysis revealed general alterations in 54% of the patients, mostly with signs of blood–brain barrier dysfunction. cMRI analyses showed chronic inflammatory lesions in 4%. Combination of EEG, cMRI, and CSF revealed alterations in 76% of the patients. In three patients, autoimmune psychosis was suspected (4%). Discussion: On the basis of these findings, we conclude that a comprehensive diagnostic procedure according to the FDPP in patients with SSD is worthwhile, considering the detection of secondary, organic forms of SSDs, as well as alterations in “modulating factors” of the disease course, such as vitamin deficiency. Larger studies using comprehensive diagnostic protocols are warranted to further validate this approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis)

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 663 KiB  
Review
Genetic Basis of Dual Diagnosis: A Review of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) Focusing on Patients with Mood or Anxiety Disorders and Co-Occurring Alcohol-Use Disorders
by Kaloyan Stoychev, Dancho Dilkov, Elahe Naghavi and Zornitsa Kamburova
Diagnostics 2021, 11(6), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11061055 - 08 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3208
Abstract
(1) Background: Comorbidity between Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), mood, and anxiety disorders represents a significant health burden, yet its neurobiological underpinnings are elusive. The current paper reviews all genome-wide association studies conducted in the past ten years, sampling patients with AUD and co-occurring [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Comorbidity between Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), mood, and anxiety disorders represents a significant health burden, yet its neurobiological underpinnings are elusive. The current paper reviews all genome-wide association studies conducted in the past ten years, sampling patients with AUD and co-occurring mood or anxiety disorder(s). (2) Methods: In keeping with PRISMA guidelines, we searched EMBASE, Medline/PUBMED, and PsycINFO databases (January 2010 to December 2020), including references of enrolled studies. Study selection was based on predefined criteria and data underwent a multistep revision process. (3) Results: 15 studies were included. Some of them explored dual diagnoses phenotypes directly while others employed correlational analysis based on polygenic risk score approach. Their results support the significant overlap of genetic factors involved in AUDs and mood and anxiety disorders. Comorbidity risk seems to be conveyed by genes engaged in neuronal development, connectivity, and signaling although the precise neuronal pathways and mechanisms remain unclear. (4) Conclusion: given that genes associated with complex traits including comorbid clinical presentations are of small effect, and individually responsible for a very low proportion of the total variance, larger samples consisting of multiple refined comorbid combinations and confirmed by re-sequencing approaches will be necessary to disentangle the genetic architecture of dual diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Psychosis)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop