engleski

Biomarkers in schizophrenia: protocol for follow-up study of patients with first episode psychosis

Introduction: Huge efforts have been made to identify a biological correlate of schizophrenia in order to confirm the diagnosis and predict the outcome, but there are still no reliable biological markers. Our aim was to investigate possible clinical, functional and structural biomarkers of schizophrenia which are present during the first episode and monitor their changes during time. Methods: We have conducted a longitudinal study in patients with first episode of psychosis (FEP) and healthy controls (HC). Assessment included clinical interview, sociodemographic questionnaire, psychiatric rating scales and questionnaires and specific additional assessments that were divided into three work packages (WP). The first WP included neurocognitive and facial emotional recognition assessment with adequate tests, the second WP assessment of cerebral blood flow velocity with transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and the third WP assessment of regional cerebral perfusion with single photon emission computed tomography. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 18-month follow-up and HC at one time point. Results: We shall: 1. analyse the differences between FEP and HC, 2. analyse the changes during the course of illness from baseline to the end of study, 3. perform an exploratory analysis combining the results of different tests in order to identify potential disease phenotypes and their impact on treatment outcome. Conclusion: Identifying possible biological markers could help us in better understanding of illness and its course, as well as to tailor its treatment on individual basis.

schizophrenia ; first episode psychosis ; biological markers ; neurocognition ; TCD ; SPECT ; stress ; cortisole

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