Browsing by Author "Castillo-Passi, Rolando"
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Publication Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP® SCZ): Rationale and Study Design of the Largest Global Prospective Cohort Study of Clinical High Risk for Psychosis(2024) Wannan, Cassandra M. J.; Nelson, Barnaby; Addington, Jean; Allott, Kelly; Anticevic, Alan; Arango, Celso; Baker, Justin T.; Bearden, Carrie E.; Billah, Tashrif; Bouix, Sylvain; Broome, Matthew R.; Buccilli, Kate; Cadenhead, Kristin S.; Calkins, Monica E.; Cannon, Tyrone D.; Cecci, Guillermo; Chen, Eric Yu Hai; Cho, Kang Ik K; Choi, Jimmy; Clark, Scott R.; Coleman, Michael J.; Conus, Philippe; Cheryl M Corcoran, Cheryl M.; Cornblatt, Barbara; Diaz-Caneja, Covadonga M.; Dwyer, Dominic; Ebdrup, Bjorn H.; Ellman, Lauren M.; Fusar-Poli, Paolo; Galindo, Liliana; Gaspar, Pablo A.; Gerber, Carla; Birkedal Glenthøj, Louise; Glynn, Robert; Harms , Michael; Horton, Leslie E.; Kahn, René S.; Kambeitz-Ilankovic, Joseph; Kane, John M.; Castillo-Passi, RolandoThis article describes the rationale, aims, and methodology of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP® SCZ). This is the largest international collaboration to date that will develop algorithms to predict trajectories and outcomes of individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis and to advance the development and use of novel pharmacological interventions for CHR individuals. We present a description of the participating research networks and the data processing analysis and coordination center, their processes for data harmonization across 43 sites from 13 participating countries (recruitment across North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, and South America), data flow and quality assessment processes, data analyses, and the transfer of data to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Data Archive (NDA) for use by the research community. In an expected sample of approximately 2000 CHR individuals and 640 matched healthy controls, AMP SCZ will collect clinical, environmental, and cognitive data along with multimodal biomarkers, including neuroimaging, electrophysiology, fluid biospecimens, speech and facial expression samples, novel measures derived from digital health technologies including smartphone-based daily surveys, and passive sensing as well as actigraphy. The study will investigate a range of clinical outcomes over a 2-year period, including transition to psychosis, remission or persistence of CHR status, attenuated positive symptoms, persistent negative symptoms, mood and anxiety symptoms, and psychosocial functioning. The global reach of AMP SCZ and its harmonized innovative methods promise to catalyze the development of new treatments to address critical unmet clinical and public health needs in CHRPublication Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening tool for cognitive impairment in early stages of psychosis(2024) Corral, Sebastian; Gaspar, Pablo A.; Castillo-Passi, Rolando; Mayol Troncoso, Rocío; Mundt, Adrian P.; Ignatyev, Yuriy; Nieto, Rodrigo R.; Figueroa-Muñoz, AliciaBackground Cognitive alterations have been reported in early stages of psychosis including people with First Episode Psychosis (FEP), Clinical High-Risk Mental State (CHR), and Psychotic-Like Experience (PLE). This study aimed to compare the cognitive function in early stages of psychosis using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a low-cost and brief assessment tool of cognitive functions. Methods A total of 154 individuals, including 35 with FEP, 38 CHR, 44 PLE, and 37 healthy controls (HC), were evaluated with the MoCA in Santiago, Chile. We calculated the mean total score of the MoCA and the standard deviation of the mean. Groups were assessed for a trend to lower scores in a pre-determined sequence (HC > PLE > CHR > FEP) using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test (TJT). Results The mean total MoCA scores were 24.8 ± 3.3 in FEP, 26.4 ± 2.4 in CHR, 26.4 ± 2.3 in PLE, and 27.2 ± 1.8 in HC. The analyses revealed a significant trend (p < 0.05) toward lower MoCA individual domain scores and MoCA total scores in the following order: HC > PLE > CHR > FEP. The mean total scores of all groups were above the cut-off for cognitive impairment (22 points). Conclusions The MoCA describes lower scores in cognition across early stages of psychosis and may be a useful low-cost assessment instrument in early intervention centers of poorly resourced settings.Publication Peripheral BDNF levels in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: A systematic review(2025) Contreras, Omar; Rivera, Carla; Villaseca, Carolina; Mas, Francisco; Cartes, Benjamín; Castillo-Passi, Rolando; Nieto, Rodrigo R.Background/Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin critical for neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and alterations in its peripheral levels have been associated with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, findings on peripheral BDNF levels in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis have been inconsistent. This review synthesizes current evidence comparing peripheral BDNF levels in UHR populations with those in healthy controls (HCs), first-episode psychosis (FEP), and chronic schizophrenia (CS), focusing on BDNF’s potential relevance as a biomarker of psychosis risk and subsequent clinical course. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified studies reporting baseline peripheral BDNF levels in UHR individuals compared with HC, FEP, or CS. Of 755 records retrieved, 608 unique titles/ abstracts were screened, 49 full texts reviewed, and 8 studies included. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Given marked clinical and methodological variability, results were synthesized narratively. Results: Eight studies met eligibility criteria and were synthesized across three analytical categories: (1) UHR vs. HC; (2) UHR vs. FEP or CS; and (3) longitudinal outcomes. Findings were inconsistent; some studies reported lower BDNF in UHR relative to comparison groups, whereas others found no differences or higher levels, often influenced by clinical or methodological factors. Longitudinal analyses did not reveal consistent prognostic value, and heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Conclusions: Findings across studies were inconsistent and limited by small samples, as well as by methodological heterogeneity. While current evidence does not support its prognostic use, peripheral BDNF may still hold potential as part of a biomarker framework if evaluated in larger, standardized, and rigorously controlled studies.