European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience最新文献

Background: Both ability-based tests (such as Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test-the managing emotions branch [MSCEIT-ME]) and self-reported scales (such as Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale [WLEIS]) have been employed to measure emotional intelligence (EI). While the clinical relevance of MSCEIT-ME performance among schizophrenia patients appeared inconsistent across studies, the role of WLEIS in schizophrenia has not yet been investigated.

Methods: We examined the effect of WLEIS scores on MSCEIT-ME performance in 492 Taiwanese schizophrenia patients (including 92 drug-free and 400 chronic medicated patients), and then the influence of symptomatology and neurocognition (with nine cognitive tests) on EI (MSCEIT-ME or WLEIS). Finally, we explored the differential roles of the two EI instruments in functional outcome (Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] Scale and the Quality of Life [QoL] Scale).

Results: With multiple regression analyses, participants' WLEIS performance showed a positive correlation with MSCEIT-ME scores after controlling sex and age. While male and younger patients with better nonverbal working memory and less severe negative symptoms were more likely to have better MSCEIT-ME performance, older patients with more positive symptoms and fewer depressive symptoms showed greater WLEIS performance. Moreover, female and younger individuals with better MSCEIT-ME and WLEIS scores had more favorable QoL, while higher MSCEIT-ME scores linked to patients' better GAF. In addition, patients' medication status didn't affect the aforementioned findings.

Conclusion: The results suggest that that MSCEIT-ME and WLEIS may differ in their associations with clinical and neurocognitive profiles, and their impacts on functional outcome. Longitudinal studies in other populations are warranted.

Background: Persistent cognitive difficulties are among the most prevalent symptoms observed after COVID-19. This study examined the neuropsychological characteristics, mental health and risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). In addition, differences regarding the cognitive dysfunctions between individuals with PASC and Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS) were explored.

Methods: Participants were consecutively recruited at the Post-COVID Center of the University Hospital Erlangen in Germany (12/2022-02/2025). Assessments included a broad neuropsychological assessment: d2 Test of Attention, digit span backwards from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) and module 1 (formal lexical fluency) of the Regensburger Verbal Fluency Test (RWT), along with assessments of depression, fatigue, and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein).

Results: The sample (N = 793, mean age: 46.1 ± 12.4 years; 66.8% women) included n = 723 PASC patients and n = 70 PVS patients. In the total sample, deficits were most frequent in working speed (61.7%), attention (54.7%) and verbal fluency (48.8%); 30.3% showed multidomain impairment. Clinically significant depressive symptoms (64.5%) and fatigue (92.4%) were common. Cognitive patterns, depressive symptoms and fatigue in the PVS group closely resembled those observed in PASC. In PASC, lower education, older age, depressive symptoms, and elevated CRP were associated with cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in PASC and PVS and appears to be influenced by both psychological and biological factors. Similar patterns identified in PVS suggest possible shared mechanisms. Further research is needed to clarify trajectories and optimize treatment strategies.

Childhood trauma has been found to be associated with suicidal ideation among youth. However, the underlying processes that link childhood trauma and suicidal ideation are unclear. This study investigates the role of nightmare frequency in the association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation, and the potential moderating effect of sex. Youths were recruited from Fujian Province, China. Childhood trauma was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the frequency of nightmares and suicidal ideation were also evaluated. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted with childhood trauma as the independent variable, suicidal ideation as the dependent variable, nightmare frequency as the mediator variable, and sex as the moderator. All statistical analyses were performed in R (version 4.2.3). A total of 3431 individuals completed all the questions assessing childhood trauma, nightmare frequency, and suicidal ideation. Among them, 28.6% reported having experienced suicidal ideation in the past 12 months. Additionally, 25.9% of participants reported frequent nightmares. The association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation was significantly mediated by nightmare frequency, with an effect size of 0.003 (bootstrap 95%CI: 0.001, 0.005). The indirect effects accounted for approximately 4.11% of the overall effect. However, there was no statistically significant moderating effect of sex on the association between childhood trauma and nightmare frequency. The findings of this study suggest that treating nightmares may serve as a promising intervention target for addressing suicidal ideation in youth with a history of childhood trauma, irrespective of sex.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of immune cells in the relationship between plasma proteins and the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD). Using a two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we systematically assessed whether immune cells mediate the causal effects of plasma proteins on MDD. We found that eleven plasma proteins (TRABD, CACNB4, EDA, SAR1A, GLRX, COTL1, STOM, CRP, FGF22, and EDA2R) were positively associated with MDD risk, while one protein (SPTLC1) exhibited a negative association. Additionally, seven immune cell phenotypes-including CD14 on CD33dim HLA DR + CD11b + , memory B cells (% of B cells), IgD⁻ CD24⁻ % B cells, CD20 on B cells, CD27 on IgD⁺ CD24⁺, CD27 on IgD⁻ CD38dim, and CD62L on CD62L⁺ DCs-showed potential causal effects on MDD. Further mediation analysis revealed that three immune cell types mediated the effects of four plasma proteins on MDD: CD27 on IgD⁺ CD24⁺ cells mediated the effects of both COTL1 and RNF122 (mediation proportions: 5.13% and 4.50%, respectively); IgD⁻ CD24⁻ % B cells mediated the effect of EDA (12.1%); and CD62L on CD62L⁺ DCs mediated the effect of GLRX (-9.46%). The negative mediation proportion suggests a protective pathway. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings.These results provide novel insights into immune-mediated mechanisms linking plasma proteins to MDD and may inform future research into targeted immunotherapeutic strategies.

Background: Personality traits influence symptoms, functioning, and illness trajectory in chronic psychosis. However, their role in early-stage psychosis remains poorly defined, particularly regarding potential differences from healthy controls and their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing personality domains in early-stage psychosis using validated dimensional instruments. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science until March 2025. The meta-analysis included studies using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), with patient scores compared to published normative data. Studies reporting T-scores and those reporting raw scores were analyzed separately. Associations between personality domains and clinical features were narratively synthesized.

Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria; eight were included in the meta-analysis (n = 1109). Considering studies reporting T-scores, individuals with early-stage psychosis showed higher neuroticism (MD = 27.4, 95% CI [25.0 to 29.9]) and lower extraversion (MD = -6.0, 95% CI [-8.6 to -3.5]) and conscientiousness (MD = -5.5, 95% CI [-7.9 to -3.2]), relative to normative data. Analyses of studies reporting raw scores showed similar effects, though not statistically significant. The same personality domains were consistently associated with symptom severity, treatment adherence, functioning, and service use.

Conclusions: Early-stage psychosis may be characterized by a specific personality profile that modulates clinical presentation. Early personality assessment may guide tailored treatment strategies. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify their prognostic relevance and potential role in the personalization of treatment.

Background: Negative symptoms are a strong predictor of conversion to a formal psychotic disorder in youth at clinical high-risk for developing psychosis (CHR). Identification of temporally precise mechanisms underlying increases in negative symptoms could enhance early intervention and specifically support the utility of mobile health treatments. Guided by Cognitive Behavioral models of psychopathology, we examine whether a core type of biased thinking-defeatist performance beliefs (DPB)-is a real-world mechanism of negative symptoms as well as a secondary symptom that is common in CHR youth: depressed mood.

Methods: CHR youth (n = 119) and healthy control (CN; 59) subjects completed ecological momentary assessment surveys assessing DPB, negative symptoms, and depressed mood for six days.

Results: CHR youth reported elevated DPB in daily life compared to CN. Greater DPB were associated with greater concurrent negative symptoms and depressed mood in daily life. Time-lagged analyses demonstrated that increased DPB at time t led to elevations in negative symptoms and depressed mood at t + 1 above and beyond the effects of the respective symptom at time t; DPB also varied across time of day, study day, day of the week, activity context, and social partners.

Conclusions: DPB may be a promising shared mechanism contributing to negative symptoms and depressed mood in CHR youth in their daily life. Findings also provide proof-of-concept support for the utility of mobile health treatments targeting DPB by identifying key moments where DPB fluctuate in CHR youths' everyday environments.