It is important to evaluate schizophrenia in its early stages in order to identify brain sites that are affected, such that causes of illness may be better understood and appropriate preventive interventions developed. A major research goal has been to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify areas of brain abnormality which would inform our knowledge as to the mechanisms underlying the early evolution and emergence of schizophrenia. Our group identified a promising imaging biomarker using a high-resolution variant of functional MRI using gadolinium contrast- increased basal function in hippocampal subregions, which was associated with schizophrenia itself, related to the severity of positive psychotic symptoms across illness stages such as delusions, and predicted progression to psychosis from a prodromal or clinical high-risk state in a small cohort (Schobel, Lewandowski et al. 2009) Importantly, these findings to date are based upon a relatively small cohort of subjects, 27 patients with schizophrenia, 27 patients who are at high clinical risk for psychosis, and 24 comparison subjects.
We aim to build upon our previous published study by expanding the cohort of schizophrenia and patients at clinical risk for psychosis to test the predictive value of the putative marker, and include longitudinal assessment of brain function and structure. The significance of this proposal is to definitively test the utility of using a high-resolution fMRI variant to detect the earliest stages of schizophrenia, to test the utility of using a lower-resolution non- invasive fMRI variant to detect the earliest stages of schizophrenia, and to clarify the relationship between abnormal brain function and structure in its onset. If the proposed aims are achieved, our diagnostic capabilities in prodromal stages of disease will be enhanced as well as our understanding of the pathophysiology of emergent psychotic illness, both of which are key to developing preventative interventions in an effort to reduce the significant morbidity of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Schizophrenia, like all diseases of the brain, targets specific brain regions more than others. Pinpointing these targeted regions with brain imaging is challenging but important, for diagnostic purposes and for understanding mechanisms of disease. In this proposal we will use two variants of functional brain imaging that can detect disease-associated dysfunction in small regions of the brain and apply this to patients at clinical risk for psychosis who are followed prospectively for clinical and brain imaging outcomes. The main project goal is to definitively test the hypothesis of hippocampal hyperfunction as a pathogenic driver in schizophrenia and related disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH093398-04
Application #
8667502
Study Section
Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep Disorders Study Section (NPAS)
Program Officer
Rumsey, Judith M
Project Start
2011-09-22
Project End
2016-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$489,503
Indirect Cost
$173,377
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Lieberman, J A; Girgis, R R; Brucato, G et al. (2018) Hippocampal dysfunction in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia: a selective review and hypothesis for early detection and intervention. Mol Psychiatry 23:1764-1772
Crump, Francesca M; Arndt, Leigh; Grivel, Margaux et al. (2018) Attenuated first-rank symptoms and conversion to psychosis in a clinical high-risk cohort. Early Interv Psychiatry 12:1213-1216
Brucato, Gary; Appelbaum, Paul S; Masucci, Michael D et al. (2018) Prevalence and phenomenology of violent ideation and behavior among 200 young people at clinical high-risk for psychosis: an emerging model of violence and psychotic illness. Neuropsychopharmacology :
Masucci, Michael D; Lister, Amanda; Corcoran, Cheryl M et al. (2018) Motor Dysfunction as a Risk Factor for Conversion to Psychosis Independent of Medication Use in a Psychosis-Risk Cohort. J Nerv Ment Dis 206:356-361
Brucato, Gary; Appelbaum, Paul S; Lieberman, Jeffrey A et al. (2018) A Longitudinal Study of Violent Behavior in a Psychosis-Risk Cohort. Neuropsychopharmacology 43:264-271
Grivel, Margaux M; Leong, Wei; Masucci, Michael D et al. (2018) Impact of lifetime traumatic experiences on suicidality and likelihood of conversion in a cohort of individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis. Schizophr Res 195:549-553
Poe, Sarah-Lucy; Brucato, Gary; Bruno, Nicolina et al. (2017) Sleep disturbances in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. Psychiatry Res 249:240-243
Vadhan, Nehal P; Corcoran, Cheryl M; Bedi, Gill et al. (2017) Acute effects of smoked marijuana in marijuana smokers at clinical high-risk for psychosis: A preliminary study. Psychiatry Res 257:372-374
Lehembre-Shiah, Eugénie; Leong, Wei; Brucato, Gary et al. (2017) Distinct Relationships Between Visual and Auditory Perceptual Abnormalities and Conversion to Psychosis in a Clinical High-Risk Population. JAMA Psychiatry 74:104-106
Brucato, G; Masucci, M D; Arndt, L Y et al. (2017) Baseline demographics, clinical features and predictors of conversion among 200 individuals in a longitudinal prospective psychosis-risk cohort. Psychol Med 47:1923-1935

Showing the most recent 10 out of 21 publications