title: Neurofunctional correlates of vulnerability to psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: An understanding of the neurobiological correlates of vulnerability to psychosis is fundamental to research on schizophrenia. We systematically reviewed data from studies published from 1992 to 2006 on the neurocognitive correlates (as measured by fMRI) of increased vulnerability to psychosis. We also conducted a meta-analysis of abnormalities of activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in high-risk and first episode subjects, and reviewed neuroimaging studies of high-risk subjects that used PET, SPECT and MRS. Twenty-four original fMRI papers were identified, most of which involved tasks that engaged the PFC. In fMRI studies, vulnerability to psychosis was associated with medium to large effect sizes when prefrontal activation was contrasted with that in controls. Relatives of patients affected with psychosis, the co-twins of patients and subjects with an At Risk Mental State (ARMS) appear to share similar neurocognitive abnormalities. Furthermore, these are qualitatively similar but less severe than those observed in the first episode of illness. These abnormalities have mainly been described in the prefrontal and anterior cingulated cortex, the basal ganglia, hippocampus and cerebellum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied and Psychobehavioural Health Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy. p.fusar@libero.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fusar-Poli
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broome
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Placentino
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caverzasi
authors.forename: Mariachiara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortesi
authors.forename: Pierangelo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veggiotti
authors.forename: Peirluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barale
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic