title: Association of anandamide with altered binocular depth inversion illusion in schizophrenia.
abstract: Binocular depth inversion illusion (BDII) represents an illusion of visual perception that involves higher-order visual and cognitive processes. Its impairment has been linked to psychotic conditions and identified as a marker for at-risk mental states. The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in various neurophysiological processes. One of its key components, anandamide, is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Little is known about its impact on BDII alterations. Therefore, we explored associations between BDII and anandamide levels.
  
  
  
  BDII was conducted and blood and CSF were taken in 28 first-episode antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia (SZ) patients and 81 healthy controls (HC). Serum and CSF anandamide levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.
  
  
  
  BDII scores were significantly elevated in SZ versus HC, indicating a disruption of illusionary revision of percepts in SZ. Anandamide levels were significantly higher in CSF of SZ compared to HC, while serum anandamide was not. However, we found specific association differences of anandamide levels and BDII scores between schizophrenia patients and controls in serum.
  
  
  
  These findings support the hypothesis of an involvement of anandamide in cognitive processes impaired in schizophrenia and are consistent with a protective effect of elevated anandamide levels herein.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Anne R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: J Malte
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bumb
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Cathrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rohleder
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pahlisch
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , Heidelberg University , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: F Markus
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Leweke
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koethe
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C078814:anandamide
keywords: BDII; Binocular depth inversion illusion; anandamide; endocannabinoids; schizophrenia