A family study on first episode of psychosis patients: Exploring neuropsychological performance as an endophenotype

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica 2022-04, Vol.145 (4), p.384-396
• Main Authors: Murillo‐García, Nancy, Díaz‐Pons, Alexandre, Fernández‐Cacho, Luis Manuel, Miguel‐Corredera, Margarita, Martínez‐Barrio, Sara, Ortiz‐García de la Foz, Víctor, Neergaard, Karl, Ayesa‐Arriola, Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognition; Cognitive ability; Endophenotypes; Executive function; Family - psychology; Family studies; Humans; Information processing; Memory; Memory, Short-Term; Mental disorders; Neuropsychological Tests; Neuropsychology; Psychosis; psychotic disorders; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; relatives; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; schizophrenia spectrum disorders; Short term memory; Siblings
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 1600-0447
• DOI: 10.1111/acps.13404

Introduction Family studies provide a suitable approach to analyzing candidate endophenotypes of schizophrenia, including cognitive features. Objective To characterize different neurocognitive functions in a group of patients with first episode of psychosis (FEP), their first‐degree relatives (parents and siblings), and healthy controls (HC), in order to identify potential endophenotypes for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Methods Participants were assessed in the context of a national project in Spain called PAFIP‐FAMILIAS. They completed the same neuropsychological battery, which included tests of verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, working memory, executive functions, motor dexterity, attention, and theory of mind. Group comparisons were performed using one‐way ANOVA, followed by tests of multiple comparisons when appropriate. Results One hundred thirty‐three FEP patients were included, as well as 244 of their first‐degree relatives (146 parents and 98 siblings) and 202 HC. In general, relatives showed an intermediate performance between the HC and the FEP patients in all neurocognitive domains. However, the domains of executive functions and attention stood out, as relatives (especially parents) showed similar performance to FEP patients. This was replicated when selecting patients subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and their relatives. Conclusion These findings suggest that executive and attention dysfunctions might have a family aggregation and could be relevant cognitive endophenotypes for psychotic disorders. The study shows the potential of exploring intra‐family neuropsychological performance supporting neurobiological and genetic research in SSD.