TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal study on physiological stress in individuals at ultra high-risk of psychosis
AU - Nordholm, Dorte
AU - Jensen, Marie Aarrebo
AU - Kristiansen, Jesper
AU - Glenthøj, Louise Birkedal
AU - Kristensen, Tina Dam
AU - Wenneberg, Christina
AU - Hjorthøj, Carsten
AU - Garde, Anne Helene
AU - Nordentoft, Merete
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Introduction: Individuals at ultra high-risk (UHR) of psychosis exhibit significantly higher stress levels than healthy controls (HC). This study investigates how physiological stress measures differ between HC and UHR individuals and how physiological stress is associated with attenuated psychotic symptoms and changes over time in UHR individuals. Additionally, it examines how the use of medication affects physiological levels of stress. Method: The study included 72 UHR individuals and 36 HC. UHR were included according to the comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental state (CAARMS); a total-CAARMS score measured the attenuated psychotic symptoms and was calculated from the four psychosis subscales. HC and UHR were examined at baseline, and 47 UHR individuals were followed up after six months. Physiological stress measures were salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase (SAA) and heart-rate variability (HRV). Saliva was collected at four-time points during the day. Results: There was no significant difference regarding cortisol (awakening response) or SAA measures between HC and UHR individuals. The use of antipsychotics and antidepressants was associated with low HRV in UHR individuals. In an exploratory analysis of 19 UHR individuals, we found an association between the change in total-CAARMS (six months total-CAARMS minus baseline total CAARMS) and the change in HRV during sleep (six months HRV minus baseline HRV). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants could be associated with lower HRV in UHR individuals. There might be potential to investigate how HRV develops during the course of illness in UHR individuals.
AB - Introduction: Individuals at ultra high-risk (UHR) of psychosis exhibit significantly higher stress levels than healthy controls (HC). This study investigates how physiological stress measures differ between HC and UHR individuals and how physiological stress is associated with attenuated psychotic symptoms and changes over time in UHR individuals. Additionally, it examines how the use of medication affects physiological levels of stress. Method: The study included 72 UHR individuals and 36 HC. UHR were included according to the comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental state (CAARMS); a total-CAARMS score measured the attenuated psychotic symptoms and was calculated from the four psychosis subscales. HC and UHR were examined at baseline, and 47 UHR individuals were followed up after six months. Physiological stress measures were salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase (SAA) and heart-rate variability (HRV). Saliva was collected at four-time points during the day. Results: There was no significant difference regarding cortisol (awakening response) or SAA measures between HC and UHR individuals. The use of antipsychotics and antidepressants was associated with low HRV in UHR individuals. In an exploratory analysis of 19 UHR individuals, we found an association between the change in total-CAARMS (six months total-CAARMS minus baseline total CAARMS) and the change in HRV during sleep (six months HRV minus baseline HRV). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants could be associated with lower HRV in UHR individuals. There might be potential to investigate how HRV develops during the course of illness in UHR individuals.
KW - Alpha-amylase
KW - Clinical high-risk
KW - Cortisol
KW - Heart-rate variability
KW - HRV
KW - Stress
KW - Ultra high-risk
U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.012
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.012
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36996675
AN - SCOPUS:85150820885
VL - 254
SP - 218
EP - 226
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
SN - 0920-9964
ER -