Improvement in clinical symptoms in patients with the first episode of psychosis is associated with a decrease in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

• First episode psychosis (FEP) is a critical stage for intervention.
• Understanding systemic changes in FEP is crucial for predicting outcomes.
• Nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, lipid profiles, and inflammation are implicated in psychosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between clinical improvement in FEP patients and changes in nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NO2-, NO3-).
• To assess alterations in lipid profiles and systemic inflammation markers during early FEP treatment.
• To explore the association between baseline clinical factors (DUP, symptom severity) and initial biomarker levels.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 25 young FEP patients (aged 14-35) was studied.
• Blood samples were collected at baseline (1st week) and after 12 weeks of hospitalization.
• Measurements included NO metabolites, lipid profiles, inflammatory biomarkers (CRP), and clinical scores (PANSS).

Main Results:

• Clinical improvement (reduced PANSS scores) was observed after three months.
• This improvement correlated with decreased plasma nitrite (NO2-) concentration.
• Deterioration in lipid profiles and increased systemic inflammation (CRP) were noted alongside clinical improvement.
• Longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) was linked to lower initial NO2- levels.
• Higher positive symptom scores correlated with elevated CRP levels at admission.

Conclusions:

• Adverse metabolic responses, systemic inflammation, and reduced NO bioavailability are early systemic manifestations in FEP.
• These systemic changes may persist despite short-term antipsychotic treatment.
• The findings highlight potential cardiovascular risks associated with these early systemic alterations in FEP.