Cognitive function in early-phase schizophrenia-spectrum disorder: IQ subtypes, brain volume and immune markers

Andrew J. Watson, Annalisa Giordano, John Suckling, Thomas R.E. Barnes, Nusrat Husain, Peter B. Jones, Carl R. Krynicki, Stephen M. Lawrie, Shôn Lewis, Naghmeh Nikkheslat, Carmine M. Pariante, Rachel Upthegrove, Bill Deakin, Paola Dazzan, Eileen M. Joyce*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background Evidence suggests that cognitive subtypes exist in schizophrenia that may reflect different neurobiological trajectories. We aimed to identify whether IQ-derived cognitive subtypes are present in early-phase schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and examine their relationship with brain structure and markers of neuroinflammation. Method 161 patients with recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder (<5 years) were recruited. Estimated premorbid and current IQ were calculated using the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading and a 4-subtest WAIS-III. Cognitive subtypes were identified with k-means clustering. Freesurfer was used to analyse 3.0 T MRI. Blood samples were analysed for hs-CRP, IL-1RA, IL-6 and TNF-α. Results Three subtypes were identified indicating preserved (PIQ), deteriorated (DIQ) and compromised (CIQ) IQ. Absolute total brain volume was significantly smaller in CIQ compared to PIQ and DIQ, and intracranial volume was smaller in CIQ than PIQ (F(2, 124) = 6.407, p = 0.002) indicative of premorbid smaller brain size in the CIQ group. CIQ had higher levels of hs-CRP than PIQ (F(2, 131) = 5.01, p = 0.008). PIQ showed differentially impaired processing speed and verbal learning compared to IQ-matched healthy controls. Conclusions The findings add validity of a neurodevelopmental subtype of schizophrenia identified by comparing estimated premorbid and current IQ and characterised by smaller premorbid brain volume and higher measures of low-grade inflammation (CRP).

Original languageEnglish
JournalPsychological Medicine
Early online date18 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 18 Feb 2022

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • inflammation
  • neuroimaging
  • psychosis
  • schizophrenia-spectrum disorder
  • subtypes

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