Greater preference for eveningness is associated with negative symptoms in an ultra-high risk for psychosis sample

Jashmina J. Shetty, Christian Nicholas, Barnaby Nelson, Patrick D. McGorry, Suzie Lavoie, Connie Markulev, Miriam R. Schäfer, Andrew Thompson, Hok Pan Yuen, Alison R. Yung, Dorien H. Nieman, Lieuwe de Haan, G. Paul Amminger, Jessica A. Hartmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: Investigating biological processes in at-risk individuals may help elucidate the aetiological mechanisms underlying psychosis development, refine prediction models and improve intervention strategies. This study examined the associations between sleep disturbances, chronotype, depressive and psychotic symptoms in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Methods: A sample of 81 ultra-high risk patients completed clinical interviews and self-report assessments of chronotype and sleep during the Neurapro clinical trial. Mixed regression was used to investigate the cross-sectional associations between symptoms and sleep disturbances/chronotype. Results: Sleep disturbances were significantly associated with increased depressive and attenuated positive psychotic symptoms. Greater preference for eveningness was significantly associated with increased negative symptoms, but not with depressive or attenuated positive psychotic symptoms. Conclusion: Sleep disturbances and chronotype may impact the emerging psychopathology experienced by ultra-high risk individuals. Further, the preliminary relationship observed between greater preference for eveningness and negative symptoms offers a unique opportunity to treat negative symptoms through chronobiological approaches.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1793-1798
Number of pages6
JournalEarly intervention in psychiatry
Volume15
Issue number6
Early online date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • chronotype
  • negative symptoms
  • psychosis
  • sleep
  • ultra-high risk

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