Reduced specialized processing in psychotic disorder: a graph theoretical analysis of cerebral functional connectivity. Issue 9 (29th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peeters, Sanne C. T.; Gronenschild, Ed H. B. M.; van Amelsvoort, Therese; van Os, Jim; Marcelis, Machteld
• Other Names: Kahn Rene investigator.; Wiersma Durk investigator.; Bruggeman Richard investigator.; Cahn Wiepke investigator.; de Haan Lieuwe investigator.; Meijer Carin investigator.; Myin‐Germeys Inez investigator.
• Is Part Of: Brain and behavior. Volume 6:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-06-29
• Subjects: Brain connectomics -- functional magnetic resonance imaging -- graph theory -- psychotic disorders -- siblings; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.508
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-3279

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Previous research has shown that the human brain can be represented as a complex functional network that is characterized by specific topological properties, such as clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global/local efficiency. Patients with psychotic disorder may have alterations in these properties with respect to controls, indicating altered efficiency of network organization. This study examined graph theoretical changes in relation to differential genetic risk for the disorder and aimed to identify clinical correlates. Methods: Anatomical and resting‐state MRI brain scans were obtained from 73 patients with psychotic disorder, 83 unaffected siblings, and 72 controls. Topological measures (i.e., clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and small‐worldness) were used as dependent variables in a multilevel random regression analysis to investigate group differences. In addition, associations with (subclinical) psychotic/cognitive symptoms were examined. Results: Patients had a significantly lower clustering coefficient compared to siblings and controls, with no difference between the latter groups. No group differences were observed for characteristic path length and small‐worldness. None of the topological properties were associated with (sub)clinical psychotic and cognitive symptoms. Conclusions: The reduced ability for specialized processing (reflected by a lower clustering coefficient) within highly interconnected brain regions observed in the patient group may indicate state‐related network alterations. There was no evidence for an intermediate phenotype and no evidence for psychopathology‐related alterations. Abstract : Resting‐state functional brain networks were constructed using a relatively large sample of patients with psychotic disorder, unaffected siblings of patients with psychotic disorder and controls ( n = 228) Results revealed that patients with psychotic disorder have specific disturbances at a whole brain level that are predominantly related to the ability for specialized processing to occur within highly interconnected brain regions, whereas the ability to combine specialized information from dispersed brain regions is still intact. However, no evidence for an intermediate phenotype was found.