Influence of duration of untreated psychosis on auditory P300 in drug-naive and first-episode schizophrenia

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2005 Apr;59(2):209-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2005.01360.x.

Abstract

P300 amplitude reduction in schizophrenia is, according to previous studies, partially recovered by treatment with neuroleptics. However, whether this medication-induced P300 recovery is associated with duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) remains unreported; the present study is a preliminary examination of this question. Auditory P300 was recorded from 18 drug-naive and first-episode schizophrenia patients, among whom 10 were identified as short DUP, and eight as long DUP. Follow-up event-related potential tests were carried out after treatment with haloperidol or bromperidol for approximately 2 months. Recovery of P300 amplitude was replicated after neuroleptic medication was administered. A significant interaction was found between DUP and the medication effect in P300 amplitude over the left temporo-parietal area; a significant P300 recovery was seen in short DUP but not in long DUP. These results suggest that first-episode schizophrenia patients with long DUP might have severe impairments in the left temporal structures, supporting DUP as a key variable in future neurobiological studies of first-episode schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Event-Related Potentials, P300 / physiology*
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents