Pan European Collaboration on Antipsychotic Naïve Schizophrenia II

The study is a prospective 2 year multimodal follow-up study of initially antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychotic patients involving a standardized intervention with monotherapy with aripiprazole during the first 6 weeks. Patients and matched healthy controls will be examined at baseline and after 6 weeks, 6 months and 2 years.

Levels of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the anterior cingulate cortex ACC and thalamus. Presynaptic Dopamine level is measured with Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (PET/CT)-scanning using 3,4-dihydroxy-6-[18F]fluoro-L-phenylalanine (18F-DOPA). Disturbances of the reward system is measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) . Regional cerebral blood flow and activity in the same regions are measured with Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (pCASL). The default mode network, functional and structural connectivity in the associated macro circuits are measured with resting state fMRI, EEG, and diffusion tensor imaging. Structural brain changes (in grey and white matter) are measured with MRI. Cognitive functions are measured with a neuropsychological test battery, and early information processing with event related EEG and electromyography (EMG) (psychophysiological examinations). Further patients psychopathology will be rated.