Near-infrared spectroscopy as a predictor of pathogenesis in individuals at risk mental state for schizophrenia

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25861025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Ota Toyosaku 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (10553646)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / 近赤外線スペクトロスコピィ / At risk mental state / 統合失調症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested that individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) have frontal lobe dysfunction. We examined whether adolescents with ARMS have reduced prefrontal hemodynamic response as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Ten treatment-naive subjects, aged 12-20 years and diagnosed with ARMS according to the Criteria of Psychosis-Risk Syndromes, were compared with 10 age- and IQ-matched healthy controls. The subjects with ARMS were evaluated with the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndrome/Scale of Prodromal Symptoms. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and/or their parents prior to the study. The relative concentrations of oxyhemoglobin were measured during the Stroop color-word task. The oxyhemoglobin changes in the ARMS group were significantly smaller than those in the control group at prefrontal cortex. The present study suggests that the adolescents with ARMS had reduced prefrontal hemodynamic response.

Free Research Field

児童・思春期精神医学