Abnormal Brain Bioenergetics in First-Episode Psychosis

Converging evidence indicates impaired brain energy metabolism in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Creatine kinase (CK) is pivotal in providing adenosine triphosphate in the cell and maintaining its levels when energy demand is increased. However, the activity of CK has not been investigated in patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Using in vivo phosphorus magnetization transfer spectroscopy, we measured CK first-order forward rate constant (k ) in the frontal lobe, in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP; n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 34), at rest.

CK k was significantly reduced in FEP compared to healthy controls. There were no differences in other energy metabolism-related measures, including phosphocreatine (PCr) or ATP, between groups. We also found increase in glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine, a putative membrane breakdown product, in patients.

The results of this study indicate that brain bioenergetic abnormalities are already present early in the course of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Future research is needed to identify the relationship of reduced CK k with psychotic symptoms and to test treatment alternatives targeting this pathway. Increased glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine is consistent with earlier studies in medication-naïve patients and later studies in first-episode schizophrenia, and suggest enhanced synaptic pruning.