Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients
Abstract Objectives Negative emotional valence of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia can be a source of distress and is considered a strong predictor of illness severity. Previous studies have found glutamate to mediate AVH severity in frontal and temporal brain regions, however,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2446 |
| _version_ | 1819320019399475200 |
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| author | Helene Hjelmervik Alexander R. Craven Erik Johnsen Kristiina Kompus Josef J. Bless Igne Sinkeviciute Rune A. Kroken Else‐Marie Løberg Lars Ersland Renate Grüner Iris E. Sommer Kenneth Hugdahl |
| author_facet | Helene Hjelmervik Alexander R. Craven Erik Johnsen Kristiina Kompus Josef J. Bless Igne Sinkeviciute Rune A. Kroken Else‐Marie Løberg Lars Ersland Renate Grüner Iris E. Sommer Kenneth Hugdahl |
| author_sort | Helene Hjelmervik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives Negative emotional valence of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia can be a source of distress and is considered a strong predictor of illness severity. Previous studies have found glutamate to mediate AVH severity in frontal and temporal brain regions, however, they do not specifically address emotional valence of AVH. The role of glutamate for the experience of negative‐ versus positive emotional valence of AVH is therefore unknown and was investigated in the current study. Methods Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), 37 schizophrenia patients had Glx (glutamate+glutamine) measured in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), and additionally in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right STG, or in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Self‐reported emotional valence in AVH was measured with the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ‐R). Results Results from linear mixed models showed that negative emotional valence was associated with reduced Glx levels across all four measured brain regions in the frontal and temporal lobe. More specifically, voices that were experienced to be omnipotent (p = 0.04) and that the patients attempted to resist (p = 0.04) were related to lower Glx levels. Follow‐up analysis of the latter showed that voices that evoked emotional resistance (i.e., fear, sadness, anger), rather than behavioral resistance, was a significant predictor of reduced glutamate (p = 0.02). Conclusion The findings could indicate aberrant glutamatergic signaling, or increased NMDA‐receptor hypoactivity in patients who experience their voices to be more emotionally negative. Overall, the study provides support for the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T11:12:55Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T11:12:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-170e9a67e19b4f13801f66cf49d7335f2022-12-21T16:58:27ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792022-01-01121n/an/a10.1002/brb3.2446Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patientsHelene Hjelmervik0Alexander R. Craven1Erik Johnsen2Kristiina Kompus3Josef J. Bless4Igne Sinkeviciute5Rune A. Kroken6Else‐Marie Løberg7Lars Ersland8Renate Grüner9Iris E. Sommer10Kenneth Hugdahl11School of Health Sciences Kristiania University college Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayNORMENT Center of Excellence Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayNORMENT Center of Excellence Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayNORMENT Center of Excellence Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayNORMENT Center of Excellence Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayNORMENT Center of Excellence Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayDepartment of Biological and Medical Psychology University of Bergen Bergen NorwayAbstract Objectives Negative emotional valence of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia can be a source of distress and is considered a strong predictor of illness severity. Previous studies have found glutamate to mediate AVH severity in frontal and temporal brain regions, however, they do not specifically address emotional valence of AVH. The role of glutamate for the experience of negative‐ versus positive emotional valence of AVH is therefore unknown and was investigated in the current study. Methods Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), 37 schizophrenia patients had Glx (glutamate+glutamine) measured in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), and additionally in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right STG, or in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Self‐reported emotional valence in AVH was measured with the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ‐R). Results Results from linear mixed models showed that negative emotional valence was associated with reduced Glx levels across all four measured brain regions in the frontal and temporal lobe. More specifically, voices that were experienced to be omnipotent (p = 0.04) and that the patients attempted to resist (p = 0.04) were related to lower Glx levels. Follow‐up analysis of the latter showed that voices that evoked emotional resistance (i.e., fear, sadness, anger), rather than behavioral resistance, was a significant predictor of reduced glutamate (p = 0.02). Conclusion The findings could indicate aberrant glutamatergic signaling, or increased NMDA‐receptor hypoactivity in patients who experience their voices to be more emotionally negative. Overall, the study provides support for the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2446auditory verbal hallucinationsBAVQ‐Remotional valenceGlutamateMR spectroscopyschizophrenia |
| spellingShingle | Helene Hjelmervik Alexander R. Craven Erik Johnsen Kristiina Kompus Josef J. Bless Igne Sinkeviciute Rune A. Kroken Else‐Marie Løberg Lars Ersland Renate Grüner Iris E. Sommer Kenneth Hugdahl Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients Brain and Behavior auditory verbal hallucinations BAVQ‐R emotional valence Glutamate MR spectroscopy schizophrenia |
| title | Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| title_full | Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| title_fullStr | Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| title_short | Negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| title_sort | negative valence of hallucinatory voices as predictor of cortical glutamatergic metabolite levels in schizophrenia patients |
| topic | auditory verbal hallucinations BAVQ‐R emotional valence Glutamate MR spectroscopy schizophrenia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2446 |
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