R. Rodriguez-Jimenez

Impulsivity and sustained attention in pathological gamblers: influence of childhood ADHD history.

Pathological gambling (PG) has been associated to both impulsiveness and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in different studies. Our objective was to compare different impulsivity and sustained attention variables, using both behavioural tasks and self-administered questionnaires, in a group of pathological gamblers with a history of childhood ADHD (PG-ADHD; nxa0=xa016), a group of pathological gamblers without this history (PG-non-ADHD; nxa0=xa039), and a control group (nxa0=xa040). As instruments of measure, we used the stop signal task (to evaluate inhibitory control/impulsivity), the differential reinforcement of Low Rate Responding Task (delay of gratification/impulsivity) and the Continuous Performance Test (sustained attention). The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) was used as a self-administered questionnaire to measure impulsiveness.Our results show that patients in the PG-ADHD group exhibit a significantly lower capacity to delay gratification than those in the PG-non-ADHD and control groups, and less inhibitory control than patients in the PG-non-ADHD group. On self-administered questionnaires such as the BIS-11 the PG-ADHD group obtained higher scores than the PG-non-ADHD and control groups. However, no differences were found with respect to sustained attention using the CPT.Our results suggest a possible selective implication of the prefrontal cortex in PG, which would be especially evident in those with a childhood history of ADHD.

The ANKK1 Kinase Gene and Psychiatric Disorders

The TaqIA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs1800497), which is located in the gene that codes for the putative kinase ANKK1 (ANKK1) near the termination codon of the D2 dopamine receptor gene (DRD2; chromosome 11q22–q23), is the most studied genetic variation in a broad range of psychiatric disorders and personality traits. A large number of individual genetic association studies have found that the TaqIA SNP is linked to alcoholism and antisocial traits. In addition, it has also been related to other conditions such as schizophrenia, eating disorders, and some behavioral childhood disorders. The TaqIA A1 allele is mainly associated with addictions, antisocial disorders, eating disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, while the A2 allele occurs more frequently in schizophrenic and obsessive-compulsive patients. Current data show that the TaqIA polymorphism may be a marker of both DRD2 and ANKK1 genetic variants. ANKK1 would belong to a family of kinases involved in signal transduction. This raises the question of whether signaling players intervene in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Basic research on the ANKK1 protein and its putative interaction with the D2 dopamine receptor could shed light on this issue.

C957T DRD2 polymorphism is associated with schizophrenia in Spanish patients

Objective:u2002 The objective was to confirm whether a homozygous genotype for the C957 allele of the C957T DRD2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with schizophrenia in an independent study population.

Retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness in patients with schizophrenia: Influence of recent illness episodes.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been recently used to investigate neuropsychiatric disorders. We aimed to study retinal OCT measures of patients with schizophrenia with respect to healthy controls, and to evaluate possible differences between recent illness episode (RIE) and non-recent illness episode (NRIE) patients. Thirty schizophrenia patients were classified as RIE (n=10) or NRIE (n=20), and compared with 30 matched controls. Statistical analyses included linear mixed-effects models to study the association between OCT measures and group membership. Multivariate models were used to control for potential confounders. In the adjusted linear mixed-effects regression model, patients had a significantly thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in overall measurements, and in the nasal, superior and inferior quadrants. Macular inner ring thickness and macular volume were also significantly smaller in patients than controls. Compared with controls, in the adjusted model only NRIE (but not RIE) patients had significantly reduced RNFL overall measures, superior RNFL, nasal RNFL, macular volume, and macular inner ring thickness. No significant correlation was found between illness duration and retinal measurements after controlling for age. In conclusion, retinal parameters observed using OCT in schizophrenia patients could be related to clinical status and merit attention as potential state biomarkers of the disorder.

DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism is associated with urinary homovanillic acid levels in a sample of spanish male alcoholic patients

TheTaqIA1 allele of the dopamine receptor gene D2 (DRD2) has been associated with alcoholism, as well as with other addictive behaviours. The exact nature of how the presence of this allele can be a vulnerability factor in the development of alcoholism remains unclear. In this study we found that the presence in theDRD2 genotype of theTaqIA1 allele in Spanish alcoholics is associated with higher levels of urine homovanillic acid (HVA) when compared to patients homozygous for theTaqIA2 allele.A sample of 142 Spanish male alcoholic patients was split into 2 groups on the basis of the presence or absence of the A1 allele in their genotype. The urine sample was analyzed by high performance liquid cromatography (HPLC), and the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyin-doleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and vanilylmandelic acid (VMA) was determined. We found a statistical difference in the concentration of HVA between the groups, that suggests this polymorphism could be related to the variance of urine HVA levels.

TaqI-A polymorphism linked to the DRD2 gene and P300 in alcoholic patients

Background and Objectives: nDifferent studies carried out mainly in young nnon-consuming children of alcoholics show an association of P300 abnormalities with nalcoholism and with the nT naqI- nA1 allele. Since the relationship between P300 and the nT naqI- nA1 allele has not been specifically studied in alcoholic patients, our objective was to ninvestigate whether the association exits in this population. nMethods: nOur sample consisted of 176 recently detoxified male alcohol-dependent npatients. These patients had been alcohol dependent from a mean age of 22.6 years and nconsumed on average 164.63 (± 142.99) cm n3 nof alcohol daily. P300 was studied using an nauditory paradigm. nT naqI n-A polymorphism genotyping was performed. The association nbetween P300 and nT naqI- nA, and correlation with age and alcohol consumption, was studied. nResults: nThe nT naqI- nA1 allele was found in 38.6% of our patients (n = 68). The latency and namplitude of P300 were 361.64 milliseconds and 17.53 microvolts, respectively. P300 wave nlatency in alcoholic patients was longer than the reference value obtained from a sample of nhealthy men of the Event-Related Potentials Unit (p < 0.001). Alcoholic patients who carried nthe nT naqI n-A1 allele showed more prolonged P300 latency than non-carriers, and these in turn nmore than the control subjects. P300 characteristics varied according to age, but an associa- ntion with amount of alcohol or number of years consuming was not found. nConclusions: nThere is a relationship between the nT naqI n-A polymorphism and P300 wave ncharacteristics in alcoholic patients. Further investigations need to be carried out in non- nconsuming alcoholic patients and in healthy control subjects to confirm this association and nto clarify the possible influence of the neurotoxic effects of alcohol on P300 physiology.

Psychopathology and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Performance in Male Schizophrenic Patients: Influence of Dual Diagnosis

Background: Different neuropsychological studies have shown schizophrenic patients to have executive function deficits, as illustrated by their performance in neuropsychological tasks such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST); certain studies have described a relationship between these deficits and negative symptoms. Schizophrenic patients also exhibit a high lifetime prevalence (40–50%) of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). However, little attention has been paid to this comorbidity (dual diagnosis) in studies associating executive functions and negative symptoms. Sampling and Methods: Our objective is to investigate the relationship between performance in the WCST and psychopathology as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in a sample of 65 male schizophrenic patients with a history of SUDs (Sch SUD+) and in a sample of 48 male schizophrenic patients without such history (Sch SUD–). Results: In the Sch SUD– group, patients who completed 4 or more categories in the WCST (‘good performers’) obtained a mean score of 21.2 ± 8.8 on the negative subscale of the PANSS, compared with a mean score of 27.8 ± 8.6 in those who completed 3 or less (‘poor performers’); these differences were statistically significant (p = 0.015). In the Sch SUD+ group, however, no association was found between WCST performance and the PANSS negative subscale score. Conclusions: The presence of a history of comorbid SUDs should be taken into consideration in studies investigating executive functions and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

P-1270 - Cytokines levels in schizophrenia patients and in theirs first- degree biological relatives

Introduction It is hypothesized that in the etiology of schizophrenia genetic and environmental factors are involved. Between the environmental events linked to the causation of this condition an inmune dysfunction has been described. First degree biological relatives of people with schizophrenia also have an incrased incidence of autoimmune diseases. Objectives The aim of this work was to examine the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, sIL-2R IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α and IFN-γ) as well as of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in male patients with schizophrenia and in their first degree-biological relatives. Methods Blood samples were obtained from patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a stable psychophatological condition (nxa0=xa036), first degree biological relatives of those patients and a healthy control group (nxa0=xa026). Serum interleukins were analyzed using a commercial ELISA preparation (Bender MedSystems). We used non-parametric test for statistical analysis. Results Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly higher serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL12-p70) and lower serum levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 than in the healthy control group. The unaffected first-degree relatives showed changes in proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF-α,) in the same way as the corresponding schizophrenia patients, but at a lower level than the healthy control group. Conclusions Ours findings suggest that sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF-a may be biologic vulnerability markers for psychiatric disorders and also these alterations might have an hereditably pattern.

PW01-216 - The impulsivity changes associated to alcohol and cocaine use

Impulsivity is associated with different types of disorders, included substance used disorders. The purposed of this study is get to know if alcohol and cocaine affect in the same way to the impulsivity paradigms or if they strength each other or if there are specific bias associated to each one of the substances. Material and methods This is a 380 heavy drinker patients sample recruited from twelve primary care centers. The patients were screened using The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT > 8). Neuropsicological tests done at the base line and after the 4 years of the study were the Continous Performance Test (CPT) and the Barrat Impulsivity scale. The alcohol and cocaine consume accumulated along the four years was also study. Results The two variables of the CPT (ommission and commission errors) had a significant correlation with the alcohol and cocaine use accumulated in these four years. The variable that was associated with a greater risk of making more commission and ommission errors was the cocaine risk consumption. The years of study were protective variable. Conclusions The most important conclusion of this study is that alcohol and cocaine use produces a modification in the conductual paradigm of impulsivity characterized by the inhibition difficulties measured by the CPT. Also, the cocaine use effects are added respect to the alcohol ones and finally that cocaine plus alcohol effects over the number of ommission and commission errors are more potent that the ones made only with alcohol.