Review
Psychiatry
Zeng Zhang, Liangliang Ping, Ailing Zhai, Cong Zhou
Summary: The meta-analysis found microstructural abnormalities in distributed WM tracts in OCD patients, with heterogeneous results between the VBA and TBSS methods.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Giovanni Videtta, Letizia Squarcina, Maria Gloria Rossetti, Paolo Brambilla, Giuseppe Delvecchio, Marcella Bellani
Summary: Recent studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography have revealed significant changes in the white matter fascicles of the corpus callosum (CC) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). These changes include decreased fractional anisotropy, reduced fiber density, altered fiber tract length, and increased radial and mean diffusivity. These structural modifications in the CC may contribute to the cognitive impairments observed in BD, particularly in executive processing, motor control, and visual memory. However, the limitations of small sample sizes and heterogeneity in research methods and clinical characteristics should be considered.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Nur Dikmeer, Lutfullah Besiroglu, Maria A. Di Biase, Andrew Zalesky, Meltem I. Kasal, Aslihan Bilge, Ercan Durmaz, Serap Polat, Fazil Gelal, Nabi Zorlu
Summary: In comparison to healthy controls, OCD patients showed reduced FA and increased RD in certain key areas of the brain. OCD group also exhibited weaker connectivity in the right hemisphere compared to controls. Siblings of OCD patients had intermediate levels of white matter microstructure and connectivity, suggesting a familial predisposition for OCD.
ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jiancang Cao, Chen Chen, Taotao Zhang, Yalan Han, Rui Qin, Wenxiu Su, Jing Tian, Fengli Liang, Huiyan Zhang, Qian Shi, Gang Huang, Limin Tian, Ying Wang, Lianping Zhao
Summary: Hypothyroidism is associated with impaired white matter integrity, leading to cognitive/neuropsychiatric dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the specific segmental abnormalities of the fibers using automated fiber quantification. The results showed widespread microstructure disruption in multiple segments of different fiber bundles, with the anterior component of the anterior forceps of corpus callosum having the most significant contribution as a potential neuro biomarker for early warning of cerebral impairment in hypothyroidism.
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha Baldi, Stijn Michielse, Chris Vriend, Martijn P. van den Heuvel, Odile A. van den Heuvel, Koen R. J. Schruers, Liesbet Goossens
Summary: Rich-club organization is crucial for efficient global neuronal signaling and information integration. This study focused on examining alterations in rich-club organization in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and found that OCD patients displayed weaker structural connectivity between rich-club nodes, resulting in lower network integration and higher network segregation. These findings emphasize the importance of investigating network-based alterations in brain organization and function when studying the neurobiological basis of OCD.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Derek Sayre Andrews, Joshua K. Lee, Danielle Jenine Harvey, Einat Waizbard-Bartov, Marjorie Solomon, Sally J. Rogers, Christine Wu Nordahl, David G. Amaral
Summary: The study found that autistic children showed slower development of fractional anisotropy in certain white matter regions, and changes in white matter diffusion parameters were associated with longitudinal changes in autism severity. These findings suggest that differences in white matter development are linked to functional differences in the autistic brain and may be indicative of atypical neurodevelopment.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
Qihui Niu, Jianyu Li, Lei Yang, Zitong Huang, Mingmin Niu, Xueqin Song, Yuanchao Zhang, Youhui Li
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated alterations in intracortical myelin and white matter microstructure in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They found that OCD patients exhibited abnormal intracortical myelination and reduced white matter microstructure. These abnormalities may contribute to the disrupted brain connectivity and inhibitory control in OCD.
NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Jianyu Li, Jian Cheng, Lei Yang, Qihui Niu, Yuanchao Zhang, Lena Palaniyappan
Summary: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is believed to be caused by dysconnectivity among interconnected brain regions, leading to a wide range of clinical manifestations. This study found that patients with OCD have increased cortical gyrification in certain brain regions and decreased white matter distortion, which are associated with higher anxiety levels. These findings suggest that alterations in cortical folding and white matter geometry may be neural substrates underlying the clinical manifestations of OCD.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Claudio Cordani, Paolo Preziosa, Paola Valsasina, Alessandro Meani, Elisabetta Pagani, Tetsu Morozumi, Maria Assunta Rocca, Massimo Filippi
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between altered callosal integrity and disability in multiple sclerosis patients using multiparametric MRI approaches. The results show that structural, rather than functional, abnormalities in white matter fibers predict the severity of global disability and upper limb motor impairment. These predictors appear to be less evident at higher levels of disability.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Andreana Benitez, Jens H. Jensen, Kathryn Thorn, Siddhartha Dhiman, Stephanie Fountain-Zaragoza, William J. Rieter, Maria Vittoria Spampinato, Eric D. Hamlett, Paul J. Nietert, Maria de Fatima Falangola, Joseph A. Helpern
Summary: This study aimed to detect and describe amyloid-related white matter changes in preclinical Alzheimer's disease using diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) and biophysical modeling. The results showed greater diffusion restriction in white matter, particularly in the extra-axonal space within late myelinating tracts, in Alzheimer's disease patients. The diffusion metrics were able to predict amyloid status incrementally and were associated with other biomarkers.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Trevor. W. Robbins
Summary: This scientific commentary discusses the research conducted by Kim et al. on the unbalanced fronto-pallidal neurocircuit underlying set shifting in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, published in the journal Brain.
Article
Neurosciences
Abdullah Ishaque, Daniel Ta, Muhammad Khan, Lorne Zinman, Lawrence Korngut, Angela Genge, Annie Dionne, Hannah Briemberg, Collin Luk, Yee-Hong Yang, Christian Beaulieu, Derek Emery, Dean T. Eurich, Richard Frayne, Simon Graham, Alan Wilman, Nicolas Dupre, Sanjay Kalra
Summary: Progressive cerebral degeneration in ALS was studied using 3D texture analysis on MRI images, revealing texture changes in multiple brain regions at baseline and progressive alterations over follow-up period. Different phenotypes of ALS showed distinct patterns of texture changes in different brain areas, suggesting that the longitudinal gray matter pathology in ALS involves frontotemporal regions rather than the motor cortex.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jesus Ramirez-Bermudez, Oscar Marrufo-Melendez, Cecilia Berlanga-Flores, Adilia Guadamuz, Carmen Atriano, Roger Carrillo-Mezo, Patricia Alvarado, Rafael Favila, Jesus Taboada, Camilo Rios, Maria Yoldi-Negrete, Ramiro Ruiz-Garcia, Mauricio Tohen
Summary: Late onset mania in patients over 50 years old is associated with abnormalities in white matter integrity, affecting cognitive function. DTI results showed differences in commissural and limbic connections between patients and comparison group. White matter abnormalities were more frequent in patients based on Fazekas scale assessment of the FLAIR sequence.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Negar Fani, Nathaniel G. Harnett, Bekh Bradley, Yara Mekawi, Abigail Powers, Jennifer S. Stevens, Kerry J. Ressler, Sierra E. Carter
Summary: Experiences of racial discrimination are independently associated with lower white matter microstructure in the brains of Black American women, even after controlling for other factors. This suggests that racial discrimination may have detrimental effects on brain health and increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders and mental health problems.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Mahvash Azarvand Damirichi, Mohammad Karimi Moridani, Seyyed Erfan Mohammadi
Summary: Approximately 2%-3% of the global population has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The brain volumes in OCD can vary depending on specific OCD symptom dimensions. This study aimed to explore white matter structure changes in specific OCD symptom dimensions. The results showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right anterior thalamic radiation, right corticospinal tract, and forceps minor for all OCD patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the contamination subgroup exhibited decreased FA in the forceps minor region, which suggests its central role in the pathophysiology of contamination behaviors in OCD.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Abhishek Appaji, Vaishak Harish, Vittal Korann, Priyanka Devi, Arpitha Jacob, Anantha Padmanabha, Vijay Kumar, Shivarama Varambally, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Shyam Vasudeva Rao, H. N. Suma, Caroll A. B. Webers, Tos T. J. M. Berendschot, Naren P. Rao
Summary: Psychiatric diagnosis still relies on subjective symptom reports, but recent studies have found retinal vascular abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. This study used deep learning to analyze retinal fundus images and achieved high accuracy and AUC values for classifying schizophrenia patients, suggesting the potential utility of deep learning in assisting with diagnosis.
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Psychology
Subhashini K. Rangarajan, Naga V. S. S. Gorthi, Sowmya Selvaraj, Preetie Shetty Akkunje, Rujuta Parlikar, Vanteemar S. Sreeraj, B. K. Yamini, G. V. Rashmi, Palanimuthu Thangaraju Sivakumar, N. Shivashankar, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
INDIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Petra J. W. Pouwels, Chris Vriend, Feng Liu, Niels T. de Joode, Maria C. G. Otaduy, Bruno Pastorello, Frances C. Robertson, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Jonathan Ipser, Seonjoo Lee, Marcelo C. Batistuzzo, Marcelo Q. Hoexter, Christine Lochner, Euripedes C. Miguel, Janardhanan C. Narayanaswamy, Rashmi Rao, Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Roseli G. Shavitt, Karthik Sheshachala, Dan J. Stein, Anton J. L. M. van Balkom, Melanie Wall, Helen Blair Simpson, Odile A. van den Heuvel
Summary: This study aimed to translate neuroimaging findings in neuropsychiatric research to worldwide populations by using a harmonized MRI data acquisition and quality assessment method. The results showed that there was less variation within sites than between sites in terms of image quality measures (IQMs) and outcome measures. IQMs had less of an impact on outcome measures after preprocessing. Continuous monitoring of IQMs per site is valuable to detect potential artifacts and outliers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicolette Stogios, Laurie Hamel, Emily Smith, Marcos Sanches, Gary Remington, Aristotle Voineskos, Satya Dash, Ariel Graff-Guerrero, Margaret Hahn, Sri Mahavir Agarwal
Summary: This study aims to investigate whether antipsychotic medications disrupt brain insulin signaling using neural signatures. By conducting experiments on 32 healthy volunteers, the researchers hope to demonstrate that olanzapine can acutely induce brain insulin resistance, which is clinically relevant for metabolic health in schizophrenia patients.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Weijie Sun, Sunil Vasu Kalmady, Nariman Sepehrvand, Amir Salimi, Yousef Nademi, Kevin Bainey, Justin A. Ezekowitz, Russell Greiner, Abram Hindle, Finlay A. McAlister, Roopinder K. Sandhu, Padma Kaul
Summary: This study explored the feasibility and value of using electrocardiogram (ECG) data to predict mortality risk among emergency and hospitalized patients. By developing and validating machine learning models based on ECG traces, the study showed that deep learning models outperformed models based on ECG measurements in predicting short-term and long-term mortality. The findings highlight the potential of ECG-based models for prognostication at point of care.
NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lenka Vojtila, Diana Sherifali, Rosa Dragonetti, Iqra Ashfaq, Scott Veldhuizen, Farooq Naeem, Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Osnat C. Melamed, Allison Crawford, Philip Gerretsen, Margaret Hahn, Sean Hill, Sean Kidd, Benoit Mulsant, Eva Serhal, Leah Tackaberry-Giddens, Carly Whitmore, Jennifer Marttila, Frank Tang, Seeta Ramdass, Gloria Lourido, Sanjeev Sockalingam, Peter Selby
Summary: This study aims to test the feasibility of a technology-enabled collaborative care (TECC) model for diabetes management and mental health support among adults with T2D. Thirty adults with T2D in Ontario, Canada will participate in an 8-week web-based health coaching program supported by a digital care team. The study results, expected to be available by the end of 2023, will provide valuable insights for supporting individuals with T2D and mental health challenges.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Radhika Suneel Kelkar, Vanteemar S. Sreeraj, Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta, Ameya A. Patwardhan, Jagadisha Thirthalli, Daniel M. Blumberger
Review
Neurosciences
Harsh Pathak, Vanteemar S. Sreeraj, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
Summary: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may alleviate associated symptoms in schizophrenia by modulating neuronal oscillations through sinusoidal alternating current. Preliminary research has shown promising results in the utility of tACS for schizophrenia, particularly in the areas of cognitive deficits and positive symptoms. However, more rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to substantiate these early findings.
CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Preethi V. Reddy, Pinku Mani Talukdar, Manjula Subbanna, Praerna H. Bhargav, Rashmi Arasappa, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Kesavan Muralidharan, Monojit Debnath
Summary: This study found that there were no differences in age and gender between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. The plasma levels of C1q, Factor B, and Factor H were significantly elevated in MDD patients compared to healthy controls. However, these complement proteins were not found to correlate with the clinical profile of MDD patients. These findings suggest that the alternative complement pathway plays an important role in immuno-inflammation in MDD.
CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Swarna Buddha Nayok, Vanteemar S. Sreeraj, Venkataram Shivakumar, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
Summary: Interoception refers to the perception of signals from inside the body, playing a significant role in various bodily systems. It is closely related to the autonomic nervous system and has gained attention in neuropsychiatric research. Different facets of interoception and their assessments have been proposed, and its dysregulation is implicated in psychiatric disorders. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of interoception, its disturbances, and its impact on psychiatric disorders.
CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Vanteemar S. Sreeraj, Venkataram Shivakumar, Gaurav Bhalerao, Sunil Kalmady, Janardhanan C. Narayanaswamy, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
Summary: This study used Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to evaluate the changes in connectivity patterns in the brains of unmedicated schizophrenia patients after antipsychotic treatment. The results showed significant connectivity pattern changes in the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACC/PCG) after antipsychotic treatment, and these changes were associated with improvements in clinical symptoms.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Riddhita De, Femin Prasad, Nicolette Stogios, Luisa Burin, Bjorn H. Ebdrup, Filip K. Knop, Margaret K. Hahn, Sri Mahavir Agarwal
Summary: Psychotropic medications, especially antipsychotics, can cause weight gain in individuals with severe mental illness, leading to an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. This poses challenges in managing mental health. However, there are emerging agents that show promise in mitigating weight gain.
EXPERT OPINION ON PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Joel Dissanayake, Ofer Agid, Christopher Bowie, Noah Brierley, Araba Chintoh, Vincenzo De Luca, Andreea Diaconescu, Philip Gerretsen, Ariel Graff-Guerrero, Colin Hawco, Yarissa Herman, Sean Hill, Kathryn Hum, Muhammad Omair Husain, James L. Kennedy, Michael Kiang, Sean Kidd, Nicole Kozloff, Marta Maslej, Daniel J. Mueller, Farooq Naeem, Nicholas Neufeld, Gary Remington, Martin Rotenberg, Peter Selby, Ishraq Siddiqui, Kate Szacun-Shimizu, Arun K. Tiwari, Shanthos Thirunavukkarasu, Wei Wang, Joanna Yu, Clement C. Zai, Robert Zipursky, Margaret Hahn, George Foussias
Summary: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) are associated with significant functional impairments, disability, and low rates of personal recovery. Various factors such as symptoms, physical health conditions, substance use disorders, neurobiological changes, and social factors contribute to disability in SSDs. However, conflicting findings exist due to the heterogeneous population of individuals with SSDs and the challenges of conceptualizing and treating SSDs as a unitary categorical construct. To address this challenge, this study aims to conduct a longitudinal investigation of a large cohort of individuals with SSDs to establish discrete trajectories of personal recovery, disability, and community functioning, as well as explore the antecedents and predictors of these trajectories. The study also aims to design and test personalized interventions to improve outcomes for people with SSDs.
Review
Psychiatry
Emily Chen Chen Smith, Emily Au, Sandra Pereira, Eesha Sharma, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Gary Remington, Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Margaret Hahn
Summary: Antipsychotics are crucial for treating schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Previous research suggests that these medications may lead to weight gain and dyslipidemia, while also improving psychiatric symptoms. This study explores the relationship between glucose parameters and changes in psychopathology, finding that increased glucose and insulin levels after treatment are associated with clinical improvement.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Akshay Valsaraj, Sunil Vasu Kalmady, Vaibhav Sharma, Matthew Frost, Weijie Sun, Nariman Sepehrvand, Marcus Ong, Cyril Equilbec, Jason R. B. Dyck, Todd Anderson, Harald Becher, Sarah Weeks, Jasper Tromp, Chung-Lieh Hung, Justin A. Ezekowitz, Padma Kaul
Summary: In this study, machine learning models based on echocardiography were developed to predict all-cause mortality. The models showed high accuracy and correlated with patients' quality of life. These models can be used for automated risk stratification in clinical settings.
