Emotion Processing in Persons at Risk for Schizophrenia

Abstract

Evidence suggests that individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate emotion-processing deficits. However, the nature and extent of emotion abnormalities in individuals considered at risk for schizophrenia have not been previously summarized. This article provides a review of the recent literature pertaining to emotion processing in 3 at-risk populations: those at familial high risk, those with schizotypal characteristics, and those in the putative prodrome to psychosis. Studies are reviewed across the components of emotion perception, experience, and expression. Further, we discuss investigations into psychophysiology, brain structure, and brain function that employ emotion probes. Review of the literature suggests that individuals at high risk demonstrate similar abnormalities to those with schizophrenia but at an attenuated level. The most robust findings in at-risk groups are in the areas of reduced emotion perception, self-reported anhedonia, and increased negative affect. We conclude with an agenda for future research.

Abnormal Stress Responsivity in a Rodent Developmental Disruption Model of Schizophrenia

“…Although this study does not directly address cellular and molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon, one possibility is that it could result from a failure of higher cortical processes to limit the impact of stressors. The prefrontal cortex is a region that has been linked to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (Knable and Weinberger, 1997;Lewis et al, 2005), and it has been suggested that deficits in this region could be present in the prodromal state of schizophrenia (Phillips and Seidman, 2008;Thompson et al, 2004). Moreover, the mPFC has been shown to limit the response to stress in rats and in humans (Finlay et al, 1995;Hariri et al, 2003).…”

Altered time-perception performance in individuals with high schizotypy levels

“…Moreover, the use of this group also allows differentiation between specific traits and symptoms associated with schizophrenia and their impacts on the ability in question 26,[31][32][33] .…”

Cognitive emotion regulation in unaffected offspring of schizophrenic patients

“…12,[15][16][17] These researches suggest that unaffected relatives of persons with schizophrenia have some similar type of phenotypes of the disorder.…”

“…10,11 Vulnerability to schizophrenia is heritable to some extent, hence, relatives specifically first-degree relatives are at higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders. 12 The chances of development of schizophrenia in siblings of affected persons are up to 10 times higher than the general population. 13 Researches demonstrated that milder forms of brain abnormalities exist in healthy relatives of persons with schizophrenia.…”