Aberrant salience correlates with psychotic dimensions in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Abstract

Background Aberrant salience is a well-known construct associated with the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. However, only a few studies have investigated aberrance salience as a trait, with no study investigating the association between the five aberrant salience domains and psychotic symptoms. We aimed to explore the role of aberrant salience and its domains on psychotic dimensions in both clinically remitted and non-remitted patients. Methods A sample of 102 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was divided according to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) remission criteria into two groups: remitted and non-remitted. Differences regarding psychotic symptomatology assessed by the PANSS and aberrant salience measured by the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) were explored. Finally, a correlation analysis between the PANSS and the ASI was run. Results Significantly higher ASI scores were evident among non-remitted patients. Positive symptoms (i.e. delusions, conceptual disorganization, and hallucinatory behaviour) and general psychopathology (i.e. postural mannerisms, unusual thought content) were correlated to the aberrant salience subscales ‘sharpening of senses’, ‘heightened emotionality’ and ‘heightened cognition’ and with the ASI total score. Significant correlations emerged between negative symptoms (blunted affect and social withdrawal) and ‘heightened cognition'. Finally, lack of spontaneity of conversation was related to the subscales ‘heightened emotionality’ and ‘heightened cognition’, as well as to the ASI total score. Conclusions These preliminary results support the hypothesis of an association between aberrant salience and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Further research is needed, especially into the mechanisms underlying salience processing, in addition to social and environmental factors and cognitive variables.

The association between aberrant salience and psychotic experiences in general population twins, and genetic vulnerability as a modifier.

“…In patients and ultra-high risk subjects, dopamine signalling may be ampli ed as a consequence of inaccurate processing of stimuli, as discussed in the introduction [3,4,7]. In the prodromal phase, dopaminergic dysfunction may be involved in the coming into existence of aberrant salience [30]. It is likely that this appears not only in the prodromal phase, but also in ultra-high risk phases.…”

The role of the salience network in cognitive and affective deficits

“…The researchers interpret this as a potential confirmation of the “relevance dysfunction” (aberrant salience) hypothesis in schizophrenia, proposed by Kapur ( 2003 ). It assumes that dysfunctional connections of the corticothalamic-parietal loop lead to chaotic discharges of dopaminergic neurons, disrupting the stimulus relevance selection taking place in the SN (Menon et al, 2022 ; Pugliese et al, 2022 ). On the other hand, Palaniyappan et al ( 2013 ) highlighted the disruption between the SN and FPN.…”

“…In addition, hyperconnectivity of the DMN with prefrontal FPN areas may limit the capacity of the FPN to engage in other cognitively demanding tasks, thus underpinning symptoms of reduced cognitive efficacy in the PTSD group. Charquero-Ballester et al (2022) demonstrated positive correlations between activity of SN and severity of PTSD symptoms and showed that successful Cognitive Therapy for PTSD can normalize the dynamics of brain networks. The Triple Network Model offers a valuable way of comprehending the underlying neural mechanisms of PTSD, but it is unlikely to account for all PTSD abnormalities.…”