Altered Neural Activation in First Episode Psychosis Patients With Comorbid Conduct Disorder: A Pilot Investigation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Conduct disorder (CD) increases violence risk in psychotic conditions.
• Neural correlates of first-episode psychosis (FEP) with comorbid CD are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate neural differences in FEP with and without CD using fMRI.
• Hypothesize altered activation in prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobule.

Main Methods:

• fMRI scans during a Go/No-Go impulsivity task in 51 male participants (FEP, FEP+CD, controls).
• General linear model analysis comparing successful No-Go > Go trials.
• Group-level paired t-tests with adjustments for age, IQ, medication, symptoms, and movement.

Main Results:

• Hyperactivation in FEP+CD compared to FEP in cingulate gyrus, PFC (RMFG), inferior parietal lobule, temporal gyrus, and cerebellum during response inhibition.
• No regions showed greater activation in FEP compared to FEP+CD.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary findings suggest altered brain regions for response inhibition in FEP with comorbid CD.
• These neural alterations may contribute to increased violence risk in FEP+CD.