Cingulum bundle integrity in schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations: A diffusion tensor imaging tractographic study

Background & objectives: Cingulum bundle (CB) is frequently implicated in schizophrenia; however, its role in specific symptoms of schizophrenia such as auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) is less explored. Few studies have reported association between reduced integrity of CB and severity of AVH. Using a symptom-based approach, this diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractographic study was aimed to assess and compare the integrity of CB in schizophrenia with AVH, schizophrenia without AVH and healthy controls. Methods: A total of 92 right-handed adult individuals (aged 18-50 yr) were recruited across three study groups. Those with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) diagnosis of schizophrenia with AVH (group I; n=30) were compared to those with DSM-5 schizophrenia without lifetime AVH (group II; n=32) and healthy controls (group III; n=30; screened using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview version-7.0.0. and negative family history). Clinical assessments (groups I and II) included scale for assessment of positive symptoms, scale for assessment of negative symptoms, clinical global impression-schizophrenia and psychotic symptom rating scale. All participants underwent DTI, and quantitative tract-based measurements of fractional anisotropy (FA) were obtained for images using DTI studio version-3.0. Results: All groups were comparable for age, gender, education and severity of illness. Group I had significantly lower FA values in the cingulate gyrus (CG) part of the left CB compared to groups II and III. No significant difference was found between groups II and III. Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the disruption in the left CB appears to be specific for AVH-positive schizophrenia. The finding is, however, preliminary subject to replication in future studies. Further investigations are needed to understand its relevance in the context of AVH-positive schizophrenia.

Análise de gênero dos conteúdos das vozes que os outros não ouvem / Análisis de género del contenido de voces que otros no escuchan / Gender analysis of the content of voices that others do not hear

RESUMO. De sintoma à experiência, a significação da audição de vozes vem se transformando ao longo da história. No entanto, ainda hoje, quando o usuário relata ouvir vozes, é aligeiradamente diagnosticado com algum transtorno mental e encaminhado para o tratamento que, em sua maioria, é medicamentoso. Subjetividade, conteúdo das vozes e suas interfaces com aspectos socioculturais não costumam fazer parte da assistência aos ouvidores de vozes. Diante disso, objetivou-se analisar a presença dos valores e estereótipos social e culturalmente estabelecidos para mulheres e homens no conteúdo das vozes de usuárias(os) de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial II mediante a leitura de 389 prontuários ativos. Os resultados demonstram que os enunciados presentes nos conteúdos das vozes foram influenciados pelos valores e estereótipos sociais e culturais, como as violências, os papéis de homens e mulheres na sociedade e a formação do sujeito feminino a partir da estética do corpo. A incorporação do marcador de gênero em pesquisas sobre os ouvidores de vozes promove uma análise sócio-histórica dessa experiência, ultrapassando as limitações que a psiquiatria a impôs. Além de empoderar os sujeitos, considerar a história de vida das pessoas que ouvem vozes e o que a voz enuncia por intermédio do seu conteúdo permite a criação de estratégias para o desenvolvimento de uma boa convivência com elas, repercutindo na saúde mental e na produção de vida desses sujeitos.

RESUMEN. Desde los síntomas hasta la experiencia, el significado de escuchar voces ha cambiado a lo largo de la historia. Sin embargo, incluso hoy, cuando el usuario informa que escucha voces, le diagnostican rápidamente algún trastorno mental y se lo conduce a tratamiento, que, en su mayor parte, consiste en el uso de medicamentos. La subjetividad, el contenido de las voces y sus interfaces con los aspectos socioculturales no suelen ser parte de la asistencia a los oyentes. Por lo tanto, el objetivo era analizar la presencia de valores y estereotipos social y culturalmente establecidos para mujeres y hombres en el contenido de las voces de los usuarios de un Centro de Atención Psicosocial II, leyendo 389 historias clínicas activas. Los resultados demuestran que las declaraciones presentes en los contenidos de las voces fueron influenciadas por los valores y estereotipos sociales y culturales, como la violencia, los roles de hombres y mujeres en la sociedad y la formación del sujeto femenino a partir de la estética del cuerpo. La incorporación del marcador de género en la investigación sobre oyentes de voz promueve un análisis sociohistórico de esta experiencia, superando las limitaciones que la psiquiatría ha impuesto. Además de empoderar a los sujetos, considerando la historia de vida de las personas que escuchan voces y lo que la voz enuncia a través de su contenido, permite la creación de estrategias para el desarrollo de una buena relación con ellos, reflexionando sobre la salud mental y la producción de vida de estos sujetos.

ABSTRACT. From symptom to experience, the meaning of hearing voices hás been changing through out history. However, even today, when the user reports hearing voices, He is lightly diagnosed with some mental disorder and referred for treatment, which, for the most part, is medication. Subjectivity, the content of voices and their interfaces with socio-cultural aspects are not usually part of assistance to voice-hearers. Therefore, the aim was to analyze the presence of socially and culturally established values and stereotypes for women and men in the content of the users' voices of a Centro de Atenção Psicossocial II - CAPS II (Psychosocial Care Center II), by reading 389 active medical records. The results demonstrate that the statements present in the content of the voices were some how influenced by social and cultural values and stereotypes, such as violence, the roles of men and women in society and the formation of the female subject from the aesthetics of the body. Incorporating the gender marker in research on voice-hearers promotes a socio-historical analysis of this experience, overcoming the limitations that Psychiatry hás imposed. Besides empowering subjects, considering the life story of people who hear voices and what the voice enunciates through its content, allows the creation of strategies for the development of good coexistence with them, reflecting on the mental health and the live production of these subjects.

Effect of tDCS on Aberrant Functional Network Connectivity in Refractory Hallucinatory Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study

We aim to investigate the effect of fronto-temporal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the interactions among functional networks and its association with psychotic symptoms. In this pilot study, we will determine possible candidate functional networks and an adequate sample size for future research. Seven schizophrenia patients with treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations underwent tDCS twice daily for 5 days. Resting-state fMRI data and measures of the severity of psychotic symptoms were acquired at baseline and after completion of the tDCS sessions. At baseline, decreased functional network interaction was negatively correlated with increased hallucinatory behavior. After tDCS, the previously reduced functional network connectivity significantly increased. Our results showed that fronto-temporal tDCS could possibly remediate aberrant hallucination-related functional network interactions in patients with schizophrenia.

Ouvidores de vozes: uma revisão sobre o sentido e a relação com as vozes / Entendeurs de voix: un examen sur le sens et la relation avec les voix / Oidores de Voces: una revisión sobre el sentido y relación con las voces / Voice hearers: a review about meaning and relationship with voices

Resumo Este estudo se trata de uma revisão sistematizada da literatura e teve como objetivo revisar os achados sobre o tema ouvidores de vozes, enfatizando a relação deles com suas vozes. A investigação foi realizada em duas bases de dados, PubMed e Lilacs, sem limite temporal e com os seguintes termos em inglês: "voice hearing" OR "auditory verbal hallucination". A busca resultou no total de 2.464 títulos de artigos que foram examinados quanto à adequação ao objetivo. Identificaram-se 126 artigos para análise de texto completo, dos quais 35 preencheram critérios para inclusão. Evidenciou-se que o sentido que o ouvidor atribui às vozes está atrelado a sua história de vida, fazendo ele as considerar ameaçadoras, intrusivas, controladoras, ou gentis, amigáveis e positivas. Portanto, o sentido atribuído às vozes se mostrou determinante na relação que o ouvidor estabelecerá com elas mesmas, bem como a forma como ele se relaciona socialmente.

Résumé La présente étude verse sur un examen systématisée de la littérature et vise à examiner les résultats sur le sujet des entendeurs de voix, avec un accent sur leur relation avec leurs voix. La recherche a été effectuée dans deux bases de données, PubMed et LILACS, sans limite de temps et avec ces termes en anglais: « voice hearing ¼ OR « auditory verbal hallucination ¼. Un total de 2 464 titres d'articles a été trouvé et examinés pour déterminer leur pertinence à l'objectif. Pour l'analyse du texte intégral, 126 documents ont été identifiés, dont 35 répondaient aux critères d'inclusion. Il a été observé que le sentiment que l'entendeur attribue aux voix est lié à son histoire de vie, et il les considérèrent comme menaçante, intrusive, contrôlante, ou gentille, amicale et positive. Par conséquent, le sens attribué aux voix a été déterminant dans la relation que l'entendeur établira avec elles, ainsi que la manière dont il se rapporte socialement.

Resumen Este estudio es una revisión sistematizada de la literatura y tuvo como objetivo revisar los hallazgos sobre el tema oidores de voces, enfatizando la relación de ellos con sus voces. Se ha realizado la investigación en dos bases de datos: PubMed y LILACS, sin límite temporal y con las siguientes expresiones en inglés: voice hearing OR auditory verbal hallucination. La búsqueda resultó en 2.464 títulos de artículos que fueron examinados en cuanto a su adecuación al objetivo. Fueron identificados 126 artículos para el análisis del texto completo, de los cuales 35 rellenaron criterios para inclusión. Se evidenció que el sentido que el oidor atribuye a las voces está atraillado a su historia de vida, lo que hace con que las considere amenazadoras, intrusas, controladoras, o gentiles, amigables y positivas. Por lo tanto, el sentido que se atribuye a las voces se mostró determinante en la relación que el oidor establece con las mismas, así como la manera como él se relaciona socialmente.

Abstract This study is a systematized review of literature and aimed to review the findings on the subject of voice hearers, emphasizing their relationship with their voices. The research was performed in two databases, PubMed and LILACS, with no temporal limit and with the following terms in English: "voice hearing" OR "auditory verbal hallucination". A total of 2,464 article titles were found and examined for suitability regarding our purpose. 126 articles were identified for full text analysis, from which 35 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. It was observed that the meaning voice hearers attribute to the voices is tied to their life history, and they consider them threatening, intrusive, controlling, or gentle, friendly and positive. Therefore, the meaning attributed to the voices was determinant in the relationship that the voice hearer will establish with them, as well as the way in which they relate socially.

Neural Signature for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia: A High-Resolution Positron Emission Tomography Study with Fludeoxyglucose (¹⁸F)

OBJECTIVE: Auditory hallucinations (AHs) are a core symptom of schizophrenia. We investigated the neural signature of AHs by comparing hallucinating patients with schizophrenia with non-hallucinating patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We recruited hallucinating patients with schizophrenia meeting the criteria for persistent, prominent, and predominant AHs (n=10) and non-hallucinating patients with schizophrenia (n=12). Various clinical assessments were performed incluing Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale for Auditory Hallucinations. Using fludeoxyglucose (¹⁸F) positron emission tomography, regional differences in neural activity between the groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The regions of interest analysis showed significantly lower standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri, and higher SUVR in the putamen in patients with AHs versus patients without AHs. These findings were confirmed in the voxel-wise analysis. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that hypoactivity in the frontal and cingulate gyri, coupled with hyperactivity in the temporal gyrus and putamen, may contribute to the pathophysiology of AHs.

Bilateral Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled, Cross-over Study

OBJECTIVE: A randomized double-blind cross-over trial was conducted in patients with persistent auditory hallucinations (AHs) to investigate whether bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at the temporoparietal area or Broca's area is more effective at high- or low-frequencies compared to a sham condition. METHODS: Twenty three patients with persistent AHs who remained stable on the same medication for 2 months were enrolled. They were randomized to one of four conditions: low-frequency (1 Hz)-rTMS to the temporoparietal area (L-TP), high-frequency (20 Hz)-rTMS to the temporoparietal area (H-TP), high-frequency (20 Hz)-rTMS to Broca's area (H-B), or sham. RESULTS: All the four rTMS conditions resulted in significant decrease in the scores under the auditory hallucination rating scale and hallucination change scale over time. However, there were no significant treatment effects or interaction between time and treatment, suggesting no superior effects of the new paradigms over the sham condition. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that bilateral rTMS at the temporoparietal area or Broca's area with high- or low-frequency does not produce superior effects in reducing AHs compared to sham stimulation.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Schizophrenia

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an upcoming treatment modality for patients with schizophrenia. A series of recent observations have demonstrated improvement in clinical status of schizophrenia patients with tDCS. This review summarizes the research work that has examined the effects of tDCS in schizophrenia patients with respect to symptom amelioration, cognitive enhancement and neuroplasticity evaluation. tDCS is emerging as a safe, rapid and effective treatment for various aspects of schizophrenia symptoms ranging from auditory hallucinations-for which the effect is most marked, to negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms as well. An interesting line of investigation involves using tDCS for altering and examining neuroplasticity in patients and healthy subjects and is likely to lead to new insights into the neurological aberrations and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The mechanistic aspects of the technique are discussed in brief. Future work should focus on establishing the clinical efficacy of this novel technique and on evaluating this modality as an adjunct to cognitive enhancement protocols. Understanding the mechanism of action of tDCS as well as the determinants and neurobiological correlates of clinical response to tDCS remains an important goal, which will help us expand the clinical applications of tDCS for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

Alucinações múltiplas devido a lesão no tronco cerebral: relato de caso / Multiple hallucinations due to brainstem injury: a case report

We report a case of a 43-year-old woman with brainstem encephalitis in the third trimester of pregnancy. She presented complex visual and auditory hallucinations in the acute disease phase (hearing opera arias and seeing room furniture upside-down). Hallucinations resolved with antiviral treatment.

Caso de uma mulher de 43 anos, gestante, que apresentou lucinações visuais e auditivas (árias de ópera e visão de móveis do quarto de cabeça para baixo) associadas a fase aguda de encefalite de tronco cerebral. Os sintomas desapareceram com resolução do quadro.