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Retina in Clinical High-Risk and First-Episode Psychosis
Cemal Demirlek1,2, Berat Arslan1, Merve S Eyuboglu1
1Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey.
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|November 2, 2024
Summary
Retinal thickness increased in youth with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and clinical high-risk (CHR) states. Inner retinal layers showed thickening, while macular nerve fiber layer thickness decreased in FEP, suggesting distinct retinal changes in psychosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Retinal abnormalities are linked to psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia.
- Investigating early-stage psychosis and at-risk states is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural retinal changes in youth with clinical high-risk (CHR) and first-episode psychosis (FEP) compared to healthy controls (HCs).
- To explore the potential of oculomics in diagnosing and monitoring psychosis-related neurobiological alterations.
Main Methods:
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to assess retinal structure.
- Participants included CHR (n=34), FEP (n=30), and HCs (n=28).
- Structural retinal parameters were compared across the three groups.
Main Results:
- Increased total macular thickness/volume in FEP and CHR compared to HCs.
- Decreased macular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness/volume in FEP compared to HCs.
- Increased thickness/volume in ganglion cell (GCL), inner plexiform (IPL), and inner nuclear (INL) layers in both FEP and CHR groups.
Conclusions:
- Distinct retinal regions and layers are differentially affected in the early stages of psychosis.
- Oculomics shows promise as a diagnostic tool and a biomarker for neurobiological changes in psychosis.
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