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Recent Advances in the Early Intervention in Schizophrenia: Future Direction from Preclinical Findings

Current Psychiatry Reports volume 21, Article number: 75 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the potential benefit of early intervention in schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia show cognitive impairment for several years preceding the onset of psychosis. The author discusses the recent topics on prevention of schizophrenia.

Recent Findings

Preclinical findings suggest that maternal immune activation (MIA) produces cognitive deficits as a prodromal symptom in juvenile offspring in rodents. Treatment with anti-inflammatory compounds, such as D-serine, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (a TrkB agonist), sulforaphane (or its precursor glucoraphanin), and TPPU (1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea: a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor), during adolescence might prevent the onset of behavioral abnormalities and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the medial prefrontal cortex of adult offspring after MIA.

Summary

Based on the role of inflammation and cognitive impairment in the prodromal state, early intervention using anti-inflammatory compounds (i.e., D-serine, sodium benzoate, TrkB agonist, Nrf2 agonist, soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor) may reduce the risk of subsequent transition to schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the collaborators who are listed as the co-authors of our papers in the reference list.

Funding

This study was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant 17H042431 and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development Grant JP19dm0107119.

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  1. Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan

    Kenji Hashimoto

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Correspondence to Kenji Hashimoto.

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Hashimoto, K. Recent Advances in the Early Intervention in Schizophrenia: Future Direction from Preclinical Findings. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 75 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1063-7

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Keywords

  • D-Serine
  • Keap1-Nrf2
  • Sodium benzoate
  • Soluble epoxide hydrolase
  • Sulforaphane
  • TrkB agonist