The prognostic and clinical significance of neuroimagistic and neurobiological vulnerability markers in correlation with the molecular pharmacogenetic testing in psychoses and ultra high-risk categories.

ABSTRACT

We approach an integrated, multidisciplinary, innovative research-action model in children and adolescents with psychosis and ultra high-risk categories. Our main focus was to investigate the prognostic and clinical significance of neuroimagistic and neurobiological vulnerability markers in correlation with the molecular pharmacogenetic testing in psychoses and ultra high-risk categories; the dynamic evaluation of the clinical evolution for the studied groups in correlation with specific neurobiological and neuroimagistic variables and markers. Our research was conducted in the period 2009-2015 on 87 patients, children and adolescents with psychosis (42 took treatment after pharmacogenetic testing, 45 without) and 65 children with ultra high-risk (UHR) for psychosis - 32 benefited of pharmacotherapy after pharmacogenetic testing and 33 without. Also, the patients were evaluated through magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy at baseline and after pharmacotherapy. The efficacy of the chosen therapy in correlation with the pharmacogenetic testing was evaluated through the mean change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores, in the Clinical Global Impression of Severity and Improvement (CGI-S÷I), Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and through the change registered for the relevant neurobiological markers and MR spectroscopy metabolites, from baseline until endpoint in different timepoints. Our results, showed statistically significant differences of the clinical scores between the studied groups. Our research was a proof, sustaining the use of the pharmacogenetic testing in clinical practice and the value of investigating relevant neurobiological and neuroimagistic markers for a personalized, tailored therapy for psychotic patients and neuro-psychiatric UHR categories, as a fruitful pathway of intervention and care.