The Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) has been recently proven to alleviate depressive-like behaviors in both rats and mice models. However, its potential role as a peripheral biomarker has not been evaluated in depression. To do this, we measured plasma IGF-2 and other members of the IGF family such as Binding Proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-7) in a depressed group of patients (n = 51) and in a healthy control group (n = 48). In some of these patients (n = 15), we measured these proteins after a period (19 ± 6 days) of treatment with antidepressants. The Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Self-Assessment Anhedonia Scale (SAAS) were used to measure depression severity and anhedonia, respectively. The general cognition state was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test and memory with the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT). The levels of both IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 were found to be significantly increased in the depressed group; however, only IGF-2 remained significantly elevated after correction by age and sex. On the other hand, the levels of IGF-2, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 were significantly decreased after treatment, whereas only IGFBP-7 was significantly increased. Therefore, peripheral changes in the IGF family and their response to antidepressants might represent alterations at the brain level in depression.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) and IGF binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) have been related to schizophrenia (SZ) due to their implication in neurodevelopment. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the alterations in IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 in SZ patients are intrinsically related to the psychiatric disorder itself or are a secondary phenomenon due to antipsychotic treatment. In order to test this hypothesis, we measured plasma IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 in drug-naïve first episode (FE) and multiple episodes or chronic (ME) SZ Caucasian patients who have been following treatment for years. A total of 55 SZ patients (FE = 15, ME = 40) and 45 healthy controls were recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Self-Assessment Anhedonia Scale (SAAS) were employed to check schizophrenic symptomatology and anhedonia, respectively. Plasma IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The FE SZ patients had much lower IGF-2, but not IGFBP-7, than controls. Moreover, both IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 significantly increased after atypical antipsychotic treatment (aripiprazole, olanzapine, or risperidone) in these patients. On the other hand, chronic patients showed higher levels of both proteins when compared to controls. Our study suggests that circulatory IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 increase after antipsychotic treatment, regardless of long-term conditions and being lower in drug-naïve FE patients.

Background: Cognitive impairment is central to psychosis and strongly linked to functional outcomes. The Brief Assessment of Cognition (BAC) app is a tablet-based, automated tool for assessing key cognitive domains but has not been validated in Spanish-speaking populations or across illness stages. Methods: A total of 402 participants (117 with first-episode psychosis [FEP], 125 with schizophrenia, and 160 controls) completed the BAC app along with clinical and functional assessments. We evaluated internal consistency, group differences, convergent and discriminant validity, and the effects of sex, age, and education. Normative percentiles were derived from controls. Results: The BAC app showed good internal consistency across groups (α = 0.76–0.87) and effectively differentiated individuals with psychosis from controls (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.862), with performance declining from controls to FEP to schizophrenia. Discrimination between FEP and schizophrenia was limited (AUC = 0.649). BAC App correlated positively with estimated intelligence quotient and functional capacity, and negatively with symptom severity, particularly in FEP. Performance varied by age, sex, and education, supporting the need for stratified normative data. Conclusions: The BAC app showed strong reliability and validity for cognitive assessment in Spanish-speaking individuals with psychosis. Its brevity, automated scoring, and normative data support its clinical and research applications for cognitive screening, monitoring, and treatment evaluation.

Peer Victimization (PV) or being bullied in childhood/adolescence has been associated with several negative outcomes in mental health conditions beyond the time of its occurrence. However, its possible association with personality disorders has been slightly explored. In the present study we have compared the frequency of DSM IV personality disorders among adult patients with (N = 28) or without (N = 418) a reported history of PV. For this purpose, axis II was evaluated with the Self-Report Checklist for Preliminary Items for Major Categories, whereas self-esteem and self-assessment of functioning were evaluated with single questions. Patients with PV history have met the diagnostic criteria of the avoidant (60.7% vs. 12.2%), depressive (28.5% vs. 5.2%) and paranoid (17.9% vs. 5%) personality disorders more frequently than patients without history of PV. Moreover, these patients with antecedents of being bullied have also reported lower self-esteem (2 vs. 3) and in the assessment of social functioning (4 vs. 5). Our study indicated that there is a clear association between PV and avoidant, depressive and paranoid personality patterns. These results suggest that the stress related with the experience of PV threatens a basic psychobiological need such as social acceptance with implications for the beginning of long-term dysfunctional personality trajectories.

Background: The Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) is a performance-based measure developed to assess functional capacity through simulations of daily activities. This study examined its psychometric properties in a Spanish sample, including individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP), schizophrenia, and healthy controls. Methods: A total of 370 participants (99 FEP, 116 schizophrenia, and 155 controls) completed the VRFCAT in a multicenter study. Internal consistency (McDonald’s omega), discriminative validity (group comparisons and ROC curves), and convergent validity via correlations with cognitive performance and clinical symptoms were examined. Reference percentiles were calculated from the healthy control sample using quantile regression, stratified by age and education. Results: Item-level VRFCAT completion times showed acceptable to good internal consistency overall and in controls and schizophrenia samples, but poor in FEP. Differences in VRFCAT performance emerged ( χ ² = 108.88, p < .001), with controls performing best, schizophrenia worst, and FEP in between. ROC analyses indicated good discriminative accuracy in distinguishing patients from controls (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.779, sensitivity = 80.0%, specificity = 64.2%); but limited discrimination between schizophrenia and FEP. Age and education, but not sex, significantly affected performance. VRFCAT showed small-to-moderate correlations with cognitive performance, and no significant associations with symptom severity. Conclusions: The VRFCAT is a reliable and valid tool for assessing functional capacity in Spanish-speaking individuals with psychotic disorders. Its ecological validity, objectivity, psychometric properties, brief administration time, and ease of use support its potential use in clinical and research settings for evaluating functional recovery and treatment outcomes.