| 1 | Schizophr. Res. 2001 Mar 48: 273-89 |
|---|---|
| PMID | 11295380 |
| Title | Impaired associative learning in chronic schizophrenics and their first-degree relatives: a study of latent inhibition and the Kamin blocking effect. |
| Abstract | The performance of chronic schizophrenic probands (n=21), their first-degree schizotypal (22) and non-schizotypal (19) relatives, and normal controls (24), was measured in two associative learning paradigms, latent inhibition and the Kamin blocKINg effect. These paradigms assess the effects on learning of initial exposure to other learning contingencies. The normal subjects showed latent inhibition (retarded learning of an association between a burst of white noise and a visually displayed counter increment, if the subject had first been pre-exposed to the white noise without any other consequence) and Kamin blocKINg (retarded learning of an association between two visual stimuli, if the conditioned stimulus was presented simultaneously with a second, already conditioned stimulus). The schizophrenic probands and both the schizotypal and non-schizotypal relatives were severely impaired in basic associative learning, performing much worse than the normal subjects in the control conditions (i.e. those lacKINg stimulus pre-exposure of any KINd) of both the latent inhibition and the Kamin paradigms and also showed a loss of the normal latent inhibition and Kamin blocKINg effects. The performance of the three clinically defined groups was statistically indistinguishable. These findings contrast with previous reports of the performance of normal subjects classified as schizotypal by questionnaire, who are not impaired in basic associative learning, and are particularly fast to learn after stimulus pre-exposure. The results question the assumption that high schizotypy, as assessed by questionnaire, is like schizotypy in schizophrenic KIN. The severe impairment in basic associative learning in schizophrenic patients and their KIN warrants further investigation. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 2 | Schizophr. Res. 2001 Mar 48: 273-89 |
| PMID | 11295380 |
| Title | Impaired associative learning in chronic schizophrenics and their first-degree relatives: a study of latent inhibition and the Kamin blocking effect. |
| Abstract | The performance of chronic schizophrenic probands (n=21), their first-degree schizotypal (22) and non-schizotypal (19) relatives, and normal controls (24), was measured in two associative learning paradigms, latent inhibition and the Kamin blocKINg effect. These paradigms assess the effects on learning of initial exposure to other learning contingencies. The normal subjects showed latent inhibition (retarded learning of an association between a burst of white noise and a visually displayed counter increment, if the subject had first been pre-exposed to the white noise without any other consequence) and Kamin blocKINg (retarded learning of an association between two visual stimuli, if the conditioned stimulus was presented simultaneously with a second, already conditioned stimulus). The schizophrenic probands and both the schizotypal and non-schizotypal relatives were severely impaired in basic associative learning, performing much worse than the normal subjects in the control conditions (i.e. those lacKINg stimulus pre-exposure of any KINd) of both the latent inhibition and the Kamin paradigms and also showed a loss of the normal latent inhibition and Kamin blocKINg effects. The performance of the three clinically defined groups was statistically indistinguishable. These findings contrast with previous reports of the performance of normal subjects classified as schizotypal by questionnaire, who are not impaired in basic associative learning, and are particularly fast to learn after stimulus pre-exposure. The results question the assumption that high schizotypy, as assessed by questionnaire, is like schizotypy in schizophrenic KIN. The severe impairment in basic associative learning in schizophrenic patients and their KIN warrants further investigation. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 3 | Schizophr. Res. 2001 Mar 48: 273-89 |
| PMID | 11295380 |
| Title | Impaired associative learning in chronic schizophrenics and their first-degree relatives: a study of latent inhibition and the Kamin blocking effect. |
| Abstract | The performance of chronic schizophrenic probands (n=21), their first-degree schizotypal (22) and non-schizotypal (19) relatives, and normal controls (24), was measured in two associative learning paradigms, latent inhibition and the Kamin blocKINg effect. These paradigms assess the effects on learning of initial exposure to other learning contingencies. The normal subjects showed latent inhibition (retarded learning of an association between a burst of white noise and a visually displayed counter increment, if the subject had first been pre-exposed to the white noise without any other consequence) and Kamin blocKINg (retarded learning of an association between two visual stimuli, if the conditioned stimulus was presented simultaneously with a second, already conditioned stimulus). The schizophrenic probands and both the schizotypal and non-schizotypal relatives were severely impaired in basic associative learning, performing much worse than the normal subjects in the control conditions (i.e. those lacKINg stimulus pre-exposure of any KINd) of both the latent inhibition and the Kamin paradigms and also showed a loss of the normal latent inhibition and Kamin blocKINg effects. The performance of the three clinically defined groups was statistically indistinguishable. These findings contrast with previous reports of the performance of normal subjects classified as schizotypal by questionnaire, who are not impaired in basic associative learning, and are particularly fast to learn after stimulus pre-exposure. The results question the assumption that high schizotypy, as assessed by questionnaire, is like schizotypy in schizophrenic KIN. The severe impairment in basic associative learning in schizophrenic patients and their KIN warrants further investigation. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 4 | Schizophr. Res. 2001 Mar 48: 273-89 |
| PMID | 11295380 |
| Title | Impaired associative learning in chronic schizophrenics and their first-degree relatives: a study of latent inhibition and the Kamin blocking effect. |
| Abstract | The performance of chronic schizophrenic probands (n=21), their first-degree schizotypal (22) and non-schizotypal (19) relatives, and normal controls (24), was measured in two associative learning paradigms, latent inhibition and the Kamin blocKINg effect. These paradigms assess the effects on learning of initial exposure to other learning contingencies. The normal subjects showed latent inhibition (retarded learning of an association between a burst of white noise and a visually displayed counter increment, if the subject had first been pre-exposed to the white noise without any other consequence) and Kamin blocKINg (retarded learning of an association between two visual stimuli, if the conditioned stimulus was presented simultaneously with a second, already conditioned stimulus). The schizophrenic probands and both the schizotypal and non-schizotypal relatives were severely impaired in basic associative learning, performing much worse than the normal subjects in the control conditions (i.e. those lacKINg stimulus pre-exposure of any KINd) of both the latent inhibition and the Kamin paradigms and also showed a loss of the normal latent inhibition and Kamin blocKINg effects. The performance of the three clinically defined groups was statistically indistinguishable. These findings contrast with previous reports of the performance of normal subjects classified as schizotypal by questionnaire, who are not impaired in basic associative learning, and are particularly fast to learn after stimulus pre-exposure. The results question the assumption that high schizotypy, as assessed by questionnaire, is like schizotypy in schizophrenic KIN. The severe impairment in basic associative learning in schizophrenic patients and their KIN warrants further investigation. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 5 | Schizophr. Res. 2002 Dec 58: 253-61 |
| PMID | 12409166 |
| Title | Circumstances of suicide among individuals with schizophrenia. |
| Abstract | Very little is known about the circumstances surrounding suicides in people with schizophrenia. Between September 1989 and August 1998, 15 and 100 suicide victims with and without schizophrenia, respectively, were examined from the Maryland Brain Collection (MBC). Next-of-KIN interview and medical record review following death collected demographic and clinical characteristics, family history, psychiatric symptoms, and variables surrounding the suicide. Individuals with schizophrenia exhibited significantly more lifetime depressive symptoms than those without schizophrenia. Jumping from a height was the most frequently used method among people with schizophrenia (40%), whereas gunshot wounds were most common among persons without schizophrenia (37%). A trend was noted for a smaller proportion of those with schizophrenia (20%) to plan the suicide, compared to 47% of those without the disorder. Suicide in schizophrenia is a significant clinical problem; thus, prior suicidal activity and depressive symptoms should be addressed because opportunities to intervene immediately before the act are limited. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 6 | Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 2003 Jan 116B: 1-7 |
| PMID | 12497605 |
| Title | Selectivity of verbal memory deficit in schizophrenic patients and their relatives. |
| Abstract | Some of the relatives of people with schizophrenia show impairments of memory and executive function. It is not known, however, whether within these domains there is a class of processes that is especially impaired. Seventy schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients, 115 of their relatives and 66 normal controls underwent a series of assessments evaluating modality specific recall/learning, and aspects of executive functioning, including, planning ability, spatial worKINg memory, strategy formation and rapid mental flexibility. The pattern of performance across cognitive processes was assessed using z-scores that allow direct comparison between tests with different raw score metrics. Selectivity of deficit was evaluated by subtracting the z-score of each cognitive process from the mean of the z-scores of those remaining. Patients performed out worse than controls on most measures, with verbal immediate recall and visual memory/learning the most impaired. Their relatives showed lower scores than controls on verbal and visual memory/learning and strategy formation; verbal memory and strategy formation remained impaired after eliminating those relatives with a psychiatric diagnosis. Consistent with the findings in their schizophrenic KIN, healthy relatives also showed disproportionate impairments in verbal immediate recall. Our finding of a selective deficit in verbal memory among relatives suggests that such impairment constitutes a familial, probably genetic, risk factor for schizophrenia. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 7 | Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 2003 Jan 116B: 1-7 |
| PMID | 12497605 |
| Title | Selectivity of verbal memory deficit in schizophrenic patients and their relatives. |
| Abstract | Some of the relatives of people with schizophrenia show impairments of memory and executive function. It is not known, however, whether within these domains there is a class of processes that is especially impaired. Seventy schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients, 115 of their relatives and 66 normal controls underwent a series of assessments evaluating modality specific recall/learning, and aspects of executive functioning, including, planning ability, spatial worKINg memory, strategy formation and rapid mental flexibility. The pattern of performance across cognitive processes was assessed using z-scores that allow direct comparison between tests with different raw score metrics. Selectivity of deficit was evaluated by subtracting the z-score of each cognitive process from the mean of the z-scores of those remaining. Patients performed out worse than controls on most measures, with verbal immediate recall and visual memory/learning the most impaired. Their relatives showed lower scores than controls on verbal and visual memory/learning and strategy formation; verbal memory and strategy formation remained impaired after eliminating those relatives with a psychiatric diagnosis. Consistent with the findings in their schizophrenic KIN, healthy relatives also showed disproportionate impairments in verbal immediate recall. Our finding of a selective deficit in verbal memory among relatives suggests that such impairment constitutes a familial, probably genetic, risk factor for schizophrenia. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 8 | Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 2004 -1 27: 697-722 |
| PMID | 15217348 |
| Title | How the brain processes social information: searching for the social brain. |
| Abstract | Because information about gender, KIN, and social status are essential for reproduction and survival, it seems likely that specialized neural mechanisms have evolved to process social information. This review describes recent studies of four aspects of social information processing: (a) perception of social signals via the vomeronasal system, (b) formation of social memory via long-term filial imprinting and short-term recognition, (c) motivation for parental behavior and pair bonding, and (d) the neural consequences of social experience. Results from these studies and some recent functional imaging studies in human subjects begin to define the circuitry of a "social brain." Such neurodevelopmental disorders as autism and schizophrenia are characterized by abnormal social cognition and corresponding deficits in social behavior; thus social neuroscience offers an important opportunity for translational research with an impact on public health. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 9 | J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2004 Feb 11: 3-11 |
| PMID | 14723633 |
| Title | Did anything change? Caregivers and schizophrenia after medication changes. |
| Abstract | This paper reports on a qualitative, critical study into the lives of relatives and partners of people living with enduring effects of schizophrenia. A review of the literature showed that caregivers and relatives of sufferers were seldom asked about their experiences, instead they were subject to blame or criticism regarding their parental or caregiving practices. Caregivers of people with schizophrenia were interviewed in order to reveal their experience of caring for their KIN after a medication change to atypical neuroleptics. The interview analysis was compared with mental health professional literature, using a Foucauldian approach to reveal the operation of language and power in the positioning of caregivers. This analysis was then compared to the talk of the caregivers. Similarities and differences in their ways of talKINg about caring were identified. Caregivers spoke of protracted periods of time before the establishment of a definite diagnosis, ambivalence about medication and 'never giving up'. The paper concludes that life for caregivers is constituted as doubly problematic, experiencing stigma personally and vicariously through their KIN. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 10 | Brain Res. 2005 Jun 1046: 180-6 |
| PMID | 15882844 |
| Title | Preliminary evidence for reduced social interactions in Chakragati mutants modeling certain symptoms of schizophrenia. |
| Abstract | Rodent models of schizophrenia provide powerful experimental tools for elucidating certain manifestations of the brain disease. The chakragati (ckr) mouse mutant, for instance, reproduces aberrant neuroanatomical and behavioral phenotypes observed in the corresponding human condition. To further investigate the utility of this mouse in the context of social behavior, we compared spontaneous behavioral activity and social interactions recorded during the subjective night among wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous ckr mice. We found that both heterozygous and homozygous ckr animals failed to show appropriate norms of social behavior, including proximity, approach, huddling, and anogenital investigation in response to novel conspecifics. We further found that the anatomical distribution, topography, and connectivity of the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in the anterior hypothalamus did not differ among wild-type, heterozygous, or homozygous ckr animals. These latter findings suggest that although oxytocin and vasopressin influence social behavior, connectivity of such cells may not be phenotypically relevant for the observed social deficits seen in heterozygous and homozygous ckr mice. Collectively, ckr mice and their heterozygote KIN are valuable experimental tools for pre-clinical studies involving disruptions of social behavior (e.g., social withdrawal). |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 11 | Community Ment Health J 2005 Aug 41: 419-30 |
| PMID | 16335351 |
| Title | Family involvement and satisfaction with community mental health care of individuals with schizophrenia. |
| Abstract | This longitudinal study of 246 individuals with schizophrenia examined family involvement and satisfaction with outpatient care after three months of psychiatric hospital discharge. Almost 10% of the individuals reported being dissatisfied with care. Controlling for demographic variables, individuals whose family members were not helped to cope with the mental illness had almost seven times the odds of being dissatisfied. Because care disapproval increases re-hospitalization risk (Druss, Rosenheek, & Stolar, 1999), suggestions are offered for how to facilitate KIN coping. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 12 | Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2010 Nov 14: 287-97 |
| PMID | 24917441 |
| Title | The self-assessment Global Quality of Life scale: Reliability and construct validity. |
| Abstract | Abstract Objective. The aim was to establish psychometric properties of the Global Quality of Life Scale (GQL) for people with severe mental illness. Methods. GQL is a stand-alone visual analogue scale included in "The Quality Star", a minimal platform for clinical follow-up and efficiency documentation of mental health services in eight dimensions widely used in Sweden. Validating instruments included MANSA, Inventory of Problem and Solutions, Consumer Satisfaction Rating Scale, Perceived Global Distress, health screening using UKU-Side Effect Rating Scale, GAF, and Perceived Global Burden (for next of KIN). Test-retest reliability of the GQL was examined between ratings at quarterly intervals during 1 year. Results. There were three main results: test-retest reliability at quarterly intervals was very satisfactory, concurrent validity with the initial item of life satisfaction scale of MANSA, "Life as a whole", was demonstrated and finally content validity was clarified by associations with a number of validating measures from several contexts in three studies. Conclusion. GQL have acceptable psychometric properties and is valid for serious mental ill persons. Its use as easy-to-use instrument for screening of perceived global quality of life was supported. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 13 | Psychiatry Investig 2011 Jun 8: 77-88 |
| PMID | 21852982 |
| Title | Schizophrenia, cancer and obstetric complications in an evolutionary perspective-an empirically based hypothesis. |
| Abstract | Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia have reduced fecundity and premature mortality (both accidental and violent) with no obvious compensatory advantages among KIN. The prevalence of the disorder is around 0.7/1%, higher than the expected prevalence of spontaneous mutations. Genes favoring schizophrenia may have been positively selected in the environment of evolutionary adaptation. Literature on potential adaptive genes is reviewed within an evolutionary framework. Literature search on major scientific search engine (PubMed/Medline, Ovid/PsychInfo) on papers aimed at investigating potential pathways justifying a mutation-selection balanced model. Findings are presented with a narrative touch to favor readability and understanding. Reduced incidence of cancer in both patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their siblings was reported worldwide. Such findings are notable given higher cancer risk factors in schizophrenia, i.e., smoKINg, alcohol abuse, obesity, poor diet, and poor adherence to therapy. Some genes involved in cancer proliferation might as well confer protective advantage in immune-surveillance, inflammation, vascular proliferation or apoptosis that otherwise will adversely affect early neurodevelopment. Evidence that reduced risk of certain somatic diseases is associated with schizophrenia is quite significant to progress in the evolutionary epidemiological analysis of psychopathology. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 14 | Transl Psychiatry 2013 -1 3: e214 |
| PMID | 23321811 |
| Title | Concordance of psychiatric symptom ratings between a subject and informant, relevancy to post-mortem research. |
| Abstract | Investigators are interested in determining whether lifetime behavioral traits and specific mood states experienced close to death affect brain gene and protein expression as assessed in post-mortem human brains. Major obstacles to conducting this type of research are the uncertain reliability of the post-mortem psychiatric diagnoses and clinical information because of the retrospective nature of the information. In this study, we addressed the concordance of clinical information obtained through an informant compared with information obtained through a clinician interview of the subject. To test this, we measured both lifetime and within the week psychiatric symptoms of subjects (n=20) and an informant, their next-of-KIN (n=20) who were asked identical questions. We found Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV axis 1 diagnoses by Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview proportion of positive agreement for major depression was 0.97, bipolar disorder was 0.81, whereas proportion of negative agreement was 0.97 for schizophrenia. Symptom scale intra-class correlation coefficients and 95% confidence interval were: Bipolar Inventory of Signs and Symptoms=0.59 (0.23, 0.81), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale=0.58 (0.19, 0.81), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale=0.44 (0.03, 0.72), Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale=0.44 (0.03, 0.72), Young Mania Rating Scale=0.61 (0.30, 0.82), Barratt Impulsiveness Score=0.36 (-0.11, 0.70) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire=0.48 (-0.15, 0.83). We show that DSM-IV diagnoses; lifetime impulsivity severity, childhood trauma score and symptom scores were significantly consistent between the subjects and their informants. These data suggest, with some limitations, that both retrospective and informant obtained information can provide useful clinical information in post-mortem research. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 15 | Int J Soc Psychiatry 2013 Mar 59: 147-56 |
| PMID | 22100569 |
| Title | Sources of parental burden in a UK sample of first-generation North Indian Punjabi Sikhs and their white British counterparts. |
| Abstract | The correlates of parental burden in schizophrenia may differ between ethnic groups, but few studies have examined this in a UK setting. Our aim was to identify the correlates of burden in a UK sample of first-generation North Indian Punjabi Sikh parents and their white British counterparts. Test the association of burden with a series of clinical, social and service use variables and control for potential confounding factors in a model predicting drivers of burden in a combined sample of the above. The strongest correlates of burden were patient symptoms and parental distress. Differences in correlates of burden between the groups emerged when individual components of service use and parental social network were tested. The group comparisons also revealed differences in expressed emotion (EE) and social networks. The similarities in sources of burden between the groups could be explained by a commonality of sociocultural and economic experience, resulting from the successful acculturation and affluence of this British Sikh group. The differences between the groups may be related to enduring cultural factors such as KIN support, since larger family groups were associated with low burden in the British Sikh group. The nature of EE in this British Sikh group may explain why it was not associated with burden in this sample. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 16 | J Psychiatr Pract 2014 Nov 20: 491-7 |
| PMID | 25406056 |
| Title | Substitute consent in women with psychosis. |
| Abstract | When treating patients with schizophrenia, substitute consent for treatment is often needed because of the patient's decisional incapacity. The goal of this article is to illustrate the potential problems involved in surrogate decision-maKINg in a mental health service for women. A composite case vignette that highlights these issues is presented. The vignette was developed based on files from a women's clinic for psychosis and a selective literature review. The quality of the relationship between marriage partners and the possibility of pregnancy, motherhood, and child custody disputes all complicate the ethics of next- of-KIN surrogate decision-maKINg. The concept of "best interests" (the mother's or the child's) is not straightforward. A related ethical issue is whether/when to disclose psychiatric information to spouses. It is hoped that this paper will engender further discussion in medicine, cultural studies, ethics, and the law. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |
| 17 | Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016 May 91: 390-408 |
| PMID | 25631363 |
| Title | Oxytocin, testosterone, and human social cognition. |
| Abstract | I describe an integrative social-evolutionary model for the adaptive significance of the human oxytocinergic system. The model is based on a role for this hormone in the generation and maintenance of social familiarity and affiliation across five homologous, functionally similar, and sequentially co-opted contexts: mothers with offspring, female and male mates, KIN groups, individuals with reciprocity partners, and individuals within cooperating and competing social groups defined by culture. In each situation, oxytocin motivates, mediates and rewards the cognitive and behavioural processes that underlie the formation and dynamics of a more or less stable social group, and promotes a relationship between two or more individuals. Such relationships may be positive (eliciting neurological reward, reducing anxiety and thus indicating fitness-enhancing effects), or negative (increasing anxiety and distress, and thus motivating attempts to alleviate a problematic, fitness-reducing social situation). I also present evidence that testosterone exhibits opposite effects from oxytocin on diverse aspects of cognition and behaviour, most generally by favouring self-oriented, asocial and antisocial behaviours. I apply this model for effects of oxytocin and testosterone to understanding human psychological disorders centrally involving social behaviour. Reduced oxytocin and higher testosterone levels have been associated with under-developed social cognition, especially in autism. By contrast, some combination of oxytocin increased above normal levels, and lower testosterone, has been reported in a notable number of studies of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and, in some cases, higher oxytocin involves maladaptively 'hyper-developed' social cognition in these conditions. This pattern of findings suggests that human social cognition and behaviour are structured, in part, by joint and opposing effects of oxytocin and testosterone, and that extremes of such joint effects partially mediate risks and phenotypes of autism and psychotic-affective conditions. These considerations have direct implications for the development of therapies for alleviating disorders of social cognition, and for understanding how such disorders are associated with the evolution of human cognitive-affective architecture. |
| SCZ Keywords | schizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics, schizotypy, schizotypal |