Cerebral glutamate levels over two years in initially antipsychotic-naive first-episode patients with psychosis are related to clinical symptoms and cognition.

ABSTRACT: Although emerging evidence supports glutamatergic dysfunction in schizophrenia, clinical trials with glutamatergic compounds have overall been negative. This may be due to changes in glutamate levels during the course of illness. To address this, we measured glutamate levels in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and left thalamus in 57 initially antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) aged 22.6 ± 5.0 years (58% females) and 55 healthy controls (HC) on a 3T MR scanner at baseline, after six weeks (48 FEP and 53 HC), six months (37 FEP and 49 HC), and two years (35 FEP and 45 HC). Positive and negative symptoms and cognitive function in tests of attention and spatial working memory were assessed at all visits. Linear mixed models were used in statistical analyses

SUBMITTER: Bojesen KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12602331 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature