Failure to find P50 suppression deficits in young first-episode patients with schizophrenia and clinically unaffected siblings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the P50 gating deficit is present in young first-episode patients with schizophrenia and their healthy young siblings.


METHODS
An auditory paired-click paradigm was used to assess P50 gating in 53 patients, 27 unaffected siblings, and 28 healthy controls. P50 parameters were compared between patients, sibs, and unrelated controls by a mixed-effects regression model.


RESULTS
P50 gating was not significantly impaired in patients with schizophrenia and healthy siblings as compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
P50 gating was not found to be significantly impaired in young first-episode schizophrenia patients and in healthy young siblings. These results are in contrast with the existing literature. We suggest that P50 gating impairment may be developmentally or age dependent.
de Wilde
O M
OM
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Tafelbergweg 25, 1105 BC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. o.dewilde@amc.uva.nl
Bour
L J
LJ
Dingemans
P M
PM
Koelman
J H T M
JH
Linszen
D H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors