Striatal glutamate and the conversion to psychosis: a prospective 1H-MRS imaging study.
Increased glutamate levels in the associative-striatum have been described in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR); nevertheless, it is unclear whether this abnormality predicts the conversion to psychosis. Nineteen subjects at UHR and 26 controls were studied using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Subjects at UHR were clinically followed for 2 yr. Seven UHR subjects (37%) transitioned to a psychotic disorder and the remaining 12 did not exhibit psychotic symptoms at the most recent follow-up. The psychosis transition group had higher glutamate levels compared to both non-transition and control groups (p = 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively; effect size 1.39). These pilot findings suggest that the conversion to psychosis is associated with increased glutamate levels in the associative-striatum.
Experimental Psychiatry Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico.
Camilo
C
de la Fuente-Sandoval
Pablo
P
León-Ortiz
Mariana
M
Azcárraga
Rafael
R
Favila
Sylvana
S
Stephano
Ariel
A
Graff-Guerrero
D000293:Adolescent; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011522:Protons; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D055815:Young Adult
D011522:Protons; D018698:Glutamic Acid