Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
13.6K
Visual P300 and Risk for Psychosis Onset in Youth at Clinical High Risk
Holly K Hamilton1, Brian J Roach2, Spero Nicholas2
1Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Biological Psychiatry
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Visual P300 event-related potential (ERP) deficits are linked to psychosis onset in at-risk individuals. Reduced P3b amplitude predicts earlier conversion, showing potential as a biomarker for psychosis development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Clinical criteria for psychosis onset prediction are insufficient.
- Biomarkers are needed to improve outcome prediction in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR).
- Visual P300 event-related potential (ERP) amplitude, known to be reduced in schizophrenia, was investigated in CHR individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine visual P300 ERP amplitude in CHR individuals.
- To determine if P300 amplitude is associated with future psychosis onset.
- To identify potential biomarkers for psychosis development.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded from 538 CHR individuals and 230 healthy comparison (HC) participants using a visual oddball task.
- P3b (target stimuli) and P3a (novel stimuli) amplitudes were measured.
- CHR participants were followed for 24 months to compare converters (n=71) to nonconverters (n=218).
Main Results:
- P300 amplitudes were reduced in CHR individuals compared to HC.
- Future CHR converters showed greater P3b deficits than nonconverters and HC.
- Reduced target P3b amplitude predicted earlier psychosis conversion, even after adjusting for symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- Visual target P3b deficits are associated with psychosis conversion in at-risk individuals.
- These deficits correlate with the imminence of psychosis conversion.
- Visual P3b amplitude shows promise as a biomarker for predicting psychosis onset.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
1.2K
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
1.2K
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
2.5K
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
2.5K
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
706
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
706
01:27Panic Disorder
1.2K
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
1.2K
01:17Schizophrenia
1.8K
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
1.8K
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
977
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
977