European Journal of Psychiatry最新文献

{"title":"Mental health law in Europe: Structures, standards, and ethical dilemmas a comparative analysis of 38 national frameworks in light of international guidelines, regarding involuntary measures in mental healthcare services","authors":"João Cortes Cardoso ,&nbsp;Cíntia Águas Pereira ,&nbsp;Silvana Galderisi ,&nbsp;Mariana Pinto da Costa ,&nbsp;Meryam Schouler-Ocak ,&nbsp;Thomas Pollmächer ,&nbsp;Luís Madeira","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Objectives</h3><div>In recent years, tensions have risen between the legislative context of Mental Health Laws (MHL) across Europe and the provisions set forth by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, pointing to ongoing discussions about autonomy and the conditions under which involuntary measures may occur.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comparative analysis of national Mental Health Laws (MHL) across 44 European countries was conducted, focusing on legal frameworks for involuntary psychiatric care. It identifies 38 countries with MHL, excluding six without national legislation or where mental health is governed by regional frameworks. Data were collected from official sources and verified through the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2020. A total of 38 MHLs were analysed across four key domains: general definitions, formal procedures for involuntary admission, emergency procedures, and best practices in involuntary care.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All MHLs require the presence of a mental disorder for involuntary admission, with 92 % also citing dangerousness. However, only 45 % provide a legal definition of mental disorder, and 29 % reference international diagnostic criteria (e.g., ICD, DSM). Procedures for involuntary admission are typically initiated by healthcare professionals (66 %), with courts serving as the primary deciding authority in 76 % of cases. Emergency detention durations vary, with many countries lacking clear limits. Best practices—such as distinguishing admission from treatment, allowing outpatient commitment, and requiring periodic legal review—are applied inconsistently. Only 14 countries explicitly prohibit controversial practices like psychosurgery or non-consensual ECT. While most laws emphasize protection of rights, the study highlights ethical tensions with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly around involuntary measures. Limitations include reliance on translated texts, the omission of subnational laws, and the lack of enforcement analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings highlight the need for harmonized legal standards, enhanced procedural safeguards, and stronger rights-based frameworks in mental health legislation across Europe. Reforms should aim for standardized legal definitions, clearer procedures, and alignment with international norms, while remaining sensitive to clinical and cultural contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100326"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical practice and metabolic consequences of olanzapine use in schizophrenia: results from a national survey in Spain","authors":"L.I. Muñoz-Manchado ,&nbsp;M. Bernardo ,&nbsp;J.M. Villagrán-Moreno ,&nbsp;E. Fernández-Egea","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with a global crude prevalence of approximately 23.6 million individuals and ranks among the top ten leading causes of disability worldwide. Antipsychotic medications, including olanzapine (Zyprexa), represent the most effective treatment option for these patients. This study aimed to assess the current prescribing patterns of olanzapine (Zyprexa).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>To explore real-world prescribing patterns of olanzapine (Zyprexa), patient adherence, and the perceived incidence of adverse effects—especially metabolic syndrome—a structured, purpose-designed survey was distributed to psychiatrists across Spain.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 197 Consultant psychiatrists practising in Spain responded to a survey on olanzapine (Zyprexa) use patterns. olanzapine (Zyprexa) was noted for its high efficacy, rapid onset of action, and tolerability. The majority of psychiatrists (77.8 %) reported prescribing olanzapine (Zyprexa) primarily to patients aged 31–50 years. Regarding metabolic syndrome, out of 111 responses, 60.4 % (66 psychiatrists) considered olanzapine (Zyprexa) to be associated with a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome, which was reported to occur predominantly at an early stage (61.3 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Treatment adherence to olanzapine (Zyprexa) may be negatively affected by adverse events such as weight gain and the development of metabolic syndrome, which could serve as causal factors for treatment discontinuation. The implementation of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies aimed at metabolic control may play a key role in optimizing the therapeutic management of schizophrenia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100323"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-reported and performance-based emotional intelligence and its associations with psychopathological dimensions and insight dimensions in psychosis","authors":"Esther Rosado ,&nbsp;Amalia Zarzuela ,&nbsp;Gustavo J. Gil-Berrozpe ,&nbsp;Xabier Ansorena ,&nbsp;Julen Chato ,&nbsp;Victor Peralta ,&nbsp;Manuel J. Cuesta ,&nbsp;Ana M. Sánchez-Torres","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Individuals with psychotic disorders may display over the illness course a wide range of core deficits in clinical and cognitive domains, including social cognition (SC). One of the main domains of SC is emotional processing, a key component of emotional intelligence (EI). However, the extent to which EI, as self-perceived or performance-based, is related to psychopathological domains has been scarcely studied. This study aimed to examine the relationships between self-reported EI and performance-based EI with psychopathological and insight dimensions as well as to explore the correspondence between both types of EI assessments.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seventy patients with psychotic disorders who were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric hospitalization unit were included. Psychotic, affective, and insight dimensions, as well as EI, were evaluated once psychopathological stability had been achieved.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Manic symptoms were associated with greater emotional clarity (<em>r</em> = 0.25, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) and regulation (<em>r</em> = 0.30, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), whereas depressive symptoms were associated with lower emotional regulation (<em>r</em>=-0.25, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). No significant relationships were found between the EI measures and psychotic dimensions. Lack of feeling sick and lack of insight were related to worse performance-based EI (emotional management, <em>r</em>=-0.29 and <em>r</em>=-0.25, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) and self-reported EI (emotional attention, <em>r</em>=-0.24, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05 and <em>r</em>=-0.31, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), and the former was also related to better emotional regulation (<em>r</em> = 0.26, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The discrepancy between self-reported and performance-based EI regarding their associations with psychopathological domains might be due to the different sources of assessment but may also add evidence to the need to integrate patient-reported outcome measures in the assessment of social cognition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100328"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring referentiality in psychiatric disorders: Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Ideas of Reference and Interview Scale (IRIS-S)","authors":"Isabel Argila-Plaza ,&nbsp;Ana Aquino-Servín ,&nbsp;María Ángeles García-León ,&nbsp;Paola Fuentes-Claramonte ,&nbsp;Núria Ramiro ,&nbsp;Pilar Salgado-Pineda ,&nbsp;Joan Soler-Vidal ,&nbsp;María Llanos Torres ,&nbsp;Amalia Guerrero-Pedraza ,&nbsp;Manel Sánchez ,&nbsp;Salvador Sarró ,&nbsp;Raymond Salvador ,&nbsp;Peter J McKenna ,&nbsp;Ana Barajas ,&nbsp;Edith Pomarol-Clotet","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Referentiality is a common symptom in psychotic and also some non-psychotic disorders, but there are few existing measures for assessing it. A recently developed detailed measure for this purpose is the Ideas of Reference Interview Scale (IRIS), which however has only been validated in a Chinese population of first episode psychosis patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We examined the reliability and validity of a Spanish version of the IRIS (IRIS-S) in 185 patients aged between 18 and 65 with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The IRIS-S showed internal consistency, with this being good or acceptable for the presence scale and its three subsidiary measures. Inter-rater reliability was good and test-retest reliability was also good, except for one subsidiary measure. Convergent reliability was demonstrated but was lower than expected.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The IRIS-S has acceptable psychometric properties when employed in patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Caution is necessary for its use outside psychotic disorders as it has not been examined in such populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100329"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Features of Spanish non-commercial non-pharmacological completed clinical trials in psychiatry","authors":"Rafael Dal-Ré ,&nbsp;Elena García-Méndez ,&nbsp;Ignacio Mahillo-Fernández","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100330","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100330"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145412778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychometric validation of the self-administered French version of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST): Factor structure, reliability, validity, and sociodemographic predictors","authors":"Audrey Uyttersprot ,&nbsp;Nellia Bellaert ,&nbsp;Eduard Vieta ,&nbsp;Sandra Invernizzi ,&nbsp;Laurence Ris ,&nbsp;Laurent Lefebvre","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>The <em>Functioning Assessment Short Test</em> (FAST) is widely used to assess psychosocial functioning across psychiatric conditions. Despite extensive international validation, a validated French version of the self-administered FAST is currently lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the self-administered French FAST in a general adult population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 508 French-speaking adults aged 18–65 completed the FAST alongside standardized measures of depression and anxiety. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and bifactor modeling evaluated the original six-factor structure. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Convergent validity was evaluated through multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) analysis and correlations with depression and anxiety. Generalized additive models (GAMs) examined non-linear associations between symptom severity and FAST scores, controlling for demographic covariates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The original six-factor structure was confirmed, and the bifactor model further supported interpretation of both total and subscale scores. Reliability was strong for the total FAST score (<em>α</em> = .86; <em>ω</em> = .90), whereas subscale reliability (<em>α</em> = .58–.80), with lower values for autonomy, cognitive, and leisure. MTMM analysis demonstrated moderate-to-high monotrait correlations (.51–.84), and moderate correlations with depressive (<em>r</em> = .46) and anxiety (<em>r</em> = .35) symptoms, supporting convergent validity. GAM analyses revealed a non-linear relationship between depressive symptoms and psychosocial impairment (<em>edf</em> = 2.91, <em>F</em> = 19.87, <em>p</em> &lt; .001), alongside significant effects of anxiety (<em>p</em> = .024) and employment status (<em>p</em> = .003).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The French self-administered FAST demonstrates robust psychometric properties and appears suitable for assessing psychosocial functioning in general adult populations, though caution is advised when interpreting autonomy, cognitive, and leisure subscales in non-clinical samples until further clinical validation is available.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100325"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145154690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spanish validation of “The Awareness of Social Inference Test” (TASIT)","authors":"Lorena García-Fernández ,&nbsp;Nuria Cabot Iborra ,&nbsp;Verónica Romero-Ferreiro ,&nbsp;Miguel A. Álvarez-Mon ,&nbsp;Estela Jiménez López ,&nbsp;Guillermo Lahera ,&nbsp;Skye McDonald ,&nbsp;Roberto Rodriguez-Jimenez","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Social cognition (SC) plays a fundamental role in interpersonal functioning and is often impaired in severe mental disorders like schizophrenia. The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT) is a reliable tool for assessing SC through audiovisual vignettes, but a validated Spanish version was lacking. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate TASIT for Spanish-speaking populations.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 659 participants, including healthy individuals and people with schizophrenia. The TASIT was translated and adapted following a rigorous procedure with the participation and guidance of the original author. Reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed using established psychometric tools.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Spanish version of TASIT demonstrated strong internal consistency across all sections, with McDonald’s omega coefficients ranging from ω = 0.71 to 0.89. Test-retest reliability was excellent, with correlation coefficients ranging from <em>r</em> = 0.81 to 0.87 (all <em>p</em> &lt; .001). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations with established social cognition measures (<em>p</em> &lt; .05), and discriminant validity was confirmed by significant performance differences between healthy participants and those with schizophrenia (<em>p</em> &lt; .05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The Spanish TASIT is a valid and reliable tool for assessing SC, with strong psychometric properties. It is suitable for both clinical and research settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100324"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telehealth group parent training for children with autism spectrum disorder and behavioral difficulties: feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy","authors":"Imanol Setien-Ramos ,&nbsp;Teresa Alonzo-Castillo ,&nbsp;Aina García-Martínez ,&nbsp;Jorge Lugo-Marín ,&nbsp;María Martínez-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga ,&nbsp;Laura Gisbert-Gustemps","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience significant behavioral challenges that hinder adaptive functioning and increase caregiver stress. This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a telehealth-delivered group parent training program designed to address behavioral difficulties in children with ASD.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>An open-label, single-arm trial was conducted with children aged 3–12 years diagnosed with ASD and behavioral difficulties, recruited from a tertiary hospital’s autism care program. Program effectiveness was evaluated using parent-reported measures on their children and on themselves assessing behavior problems, parental stress, and quality of life. Data analysis included pre-post comparisons and follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty dyads parent-children were analyzed. Satisfaction with the program was moderate, with especially favorable feedback on the \"planned ignoring\" unit. Preferences for delivery mode and format varied, with suggestions to reduce the number of tasks and tailor content to individual needs. Significant reductions in irritability, lethargy, hyperactivity were observed immediately after treatment, with improvements in irritability and hyperactivity sustained at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Parental stress decreased significantly post-treatment but did not persist over time. Quality of life improved significantly compared to baseline, both immediately post-treatment and during follow-up evaluations.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The telehealth-delivered group parent training program demonstrated feasibility and moderate acceptability, with significant improvements in child behavior and caregiver quality of life. However, the reduction in parental stress was not sustained over time. These findings underscore the potential of telehealth-delivered group interventions for managing ASD-related behavioral issues and indicate areas for program refinement to enhance adherence and long-term effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association of α-klotho/fibroblast growth factor 23 with cognitive features in euthymic older age patients with bipolar disorder","authors":"Wen-Yin Chen ,&nbsp;Chih Chiang Chiu ,&nbsp;Po-Hsiu Kuo ,&nbsp;Cho-Yin Huang ,&nbsp;Shang-Ying Tsia ,&nbsp;Chian-Jue Kuo ,&nbsp;Ying-Chih Cheng ,&nbsp;Po-Yu Chen ,&nbsp;Ming-Chyi Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Cognitive aging is common among bipolar disorder (BD). The α-klotho/fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) system has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and age-related diseases. This study aimed to investigate α-klotho and FGF23 levels in older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) and examine their associations with aging-related characteristics and cognitive function.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study included 87 euthymic OABD, 83 younger-age bipolar disorder (YABD), and 20 healthy controls, to assess α-klotho and FGF23 levels. In OABD group, cognitive function was evaluated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorders. Aging-related features were assessed, including daily physical activity, grip strength, and the Framingham Risk Score. We examined the correlations between α-klotho/FGF23 levels and aging-related features and explored their associations with cognitive domains in OABD.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The FGF23 levels in OABD were lower compared to those in YABD. The α-klotho levels were not significantly different between three groups. A negative association was observed between FGF23 and global cognitive composite scores (<em>B</em> = -0.006, <em>p</em> = 0.005), particularly in motor speed (<em>B</em> = -0.006, <em>p</em> = 0.001), working memory (<em>B</em> = -0.007, <em>p</em> = 0.006), and verbal fluency (<em>B</em> = -0.002, <em>p</em> = 0.049). Additionally, α-klotho levels were positively associated with working memory (<em>B</em> = 0.735, <em>p</em> = 0.039).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>FGF23 had a negative impact on cognitive domains, while α-klotho was positively associated with working memory in OABD. Future research should investigate the dysfunction of the α-klotho/FGF23 axis and incorporate additional validated aging markers in longitudinal studies to confirm the proposed biomarker relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100320"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional brain imaging of negative symptoms in schizophrenia: further evidence of prefrontal dysfunction","authors":"Paola Fuentes-Claramonte ,&nbsp;Ana Aquino-Servín ,&nbsp;María Ángeles Garcia-León ,&nbsp;Jordi Ortiz-Gil ,&nbsp;Pilar Salgado-Pineda ,&nbsp;Amalia Guerrero-Pedraza ,&nbsp;Salvador Sarró ,&nbsp;Emilio J. Inarejos-Clemente ,&nbsp;Raymond Salvador ,&nbsp;Peter J. McKenna ,&nbsp;Edith Pomarol-Clotet","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2025.100322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>An influential theory of negative symptoms in schizophrenia is that they are due to frontal lobe dysfunction, although this has not been consistently supported by functional imaging studies to date. Recently, our group found evidence of an association between negative symptoms and prefrontal hypoactivation during a novel executive task sensitive to goal neglect. The present study sought to extend this finding using a different functional imaging paradigm, the n-back working memory task.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ninety-six medicated patients with schizophrenia were divided according to the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) scores into groups with high negative symptom scores (HNS, N=70, negative symptom score range 15-34), and with low negative symptom scores (LNS, N=26, negative symptom score range 6-14). Along with 50 matched healthy controls, they underwent fMRI while performing the 2-back and 1-back versions of the n-back task.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the 2-back vs 1-back comparison, working memory-related activation was observed in lateral prefrontal and inferior parietal areas in all groups. The HNS patients, but not the LNS patients showed reduced activation in these task-related regions compared to the healthy controls. The HNS patients also showed hypoactivation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex relative to the LNS patients, although this finding was no longer statistically significant when disorganization scores were added as a covariate.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our results provide further evidence supporting the prefrontal hypothesis of negative symptoms, but also highlight the potential role of disorganization in modulating prefrontal activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"39 4","pages":"Article 100322"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}