Browsing by Subject "Symptoms"

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Open Access
Associations of psychotic symptom dimensions with clinical and developmental variables in twin and general clinical samples
(Cambridge University Press, 2024-10-30) Cardno, Alastair G.; Allardyce, Judith; Bakker, Steven C.; Toulopoulou, Timothea; Kravariti, Eugenia; Picchioni, Marco M.; Kane, Fergus; Rijsdijk, Fruhling V.; Mahmood, Tariq; Nasser el Din, Soumaya; du Toit, Deline; Jones, Lisa A.; Quattrone, Diego; Walters, James T. R.; Legge, Sophie E.; Holmans, Peter A.; Murray, Robin M.; Vassos, Evangelos
###### **Background:** Positive, negative and disorganised psychotic symptom dimensions are associated with clinical and developmental variables, but differing definitions complicate interpretation. Additionally, some variables have had little investigation. **Aims:** To investigate associations of psychotic symptom dimensions with clinical and developmental variables, and familial aggregation of symptom dimensions, in multiple samples employing the same definitions. **Method:** We investigated associations between lifetime symptom dimensions and clinical and developmental variables in two twin and two general psychosis samples. Dimension symptom scores and most other variables were from the Operational Criteria Checklist. We used logistic regression in generalised linear mixed models for combined sample analysis (n = 875 probands). We also investigated correlations of dimensions within monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs concordant for psychosis (n = 96 pairs). **Results:** Higher symptom scores on all three dimensions were associated with poor premorbid social adjustment, never marrying/cohabiting and earlier age at onset, and with a chronic course, most strongly for the negative dimension. The positive dimension was also associated with Black and minority ethnicity and lifetime cannabis use; the negative dimension with male gender; and the disorganised dimension with gradual onset, lower premorbid IQ and substantial within twin-pair correlation. In secondary analysis, disorganised symptoms in MZ twin probands were associated with lower premorbid IQ in their co-twins. **Conclusions:** These results confirm associations that dimensions share in common and strengthen the evidence for distinct associations of co-occurring positive symptoms with ethnic minority status, negative symptoms with male gender and disorganised symptoms with substantial familial influences, which may overlap with influences on premorbid IQ.
Open Access
The Brain, the Eating Plate, and the Gut Microbiome: Partners in Migraine Pathogenesis
(MDPI AG, 2024-07-11) Gazerani, Parisa; Papetti, Laura; Dalkara, Turgay; Cook, Calli Leighann; Webster, Caitlin; Bai, Jinbing
This review summarizes the relationship between diet, the gut microbiome, and migraine. Key findings reveal that certain dietary factors, such as caffeine and alcohol, can trigger migraine, while nutrients like magnesium and riboflavin may help alleviate migraine symptoms. The gut microbiome, through its influence on neuroinflammation (e.g., vagus nerve and cytokines), gut–brain signaling (e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acid), and metabolic function (e.g., short-chain fatty acids), plays a crucial role in migraine susceptibility. Migraine can also alter eating behaviors, leading to poor nutritional choices and further exacerbating the condition. Individual variability in diet and microbiome composition highlights the need for personalized dietary and prebiotic interventions. Epidemiological and clinical data support the effectiveness of tailored nutritional approaches, such as elimination diets and the inclusion of beneficial nutrients, in managing migraine. More work is needed to confirm the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and potentially fecal microbiome translation in the management of migraine. Future research should focus on large-scale studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of bidirectional interaction between diet and migraine and develop evidence-based clinical guidelines. Integrating dietary management, gut health optimization, and lifestyle modifications can potentially offer a holistic approach to reducing migraine frequency and severity, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.