Neuroinflammation Markers in Subjects With Psychotic Symptoms

The main objective of the study is to measure the plasma and intracellular levels of several neuroinflammation markers (including cytokines and chemokines) and the endocannabinoid system in subjects presenting psychotic symptoms, initially recruited in a Mental Health Hospitalization Unit, and in different clinical and evolutive stages of their disease.

To this end, we will evaluate and clinically characterize a cohort of patients who present active psychotic symptoms at the time of recruitment, and comparing it with a control group with similar sociodemographic characteristics. We will also compare our sample with a smaller sample previously recruited from patients with substance use and induced psychotic symptoms. Within our cohort of patients with psychotic symptomatology we will distinguish in turn affective psychoses from non-affective psychoses, on the one hand; and induced and non-induced psychosis by drug consumption, on the other. We will also classify patients based on whether they are experiencing the first episode of their illness or a relapse.

This study has two parts. The first one is an observational, longitudinal and prospective study. 3 blood draws will be performed from the subjects included in the study (group A of participants, see below): the first, in the first 48 hours of hospital admission; the second, in the 48 hours prior to discharge; and the third, 6 months after discharge. The sample will be composed of subjects with psychotic symptoms who come from the Mental Health Clinical Management Unit of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga. Each patient enrolled in this study will undergo a clinical evaluation (psychiatric diagnostic interview and psychometric scales). Figure 1 represents this study.

The second one is a cross-sectional study in which we will compare measurements made in group A participants with a previously recruited sample of patients with substance-induced psychosis (group B, see below) and a sample of healthy, non-psychotic controls (group C, see below).

The rater team will be composed of senior psychiatrists and training psychiatrists. From the plasma and white blood cells of the blood sample, the biochemical levels of the inflammatory mediators will be determined. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data will be assessed and analyzed using statistical programs.