Niacin skin sensitivity is increased in adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis

GE Berger; S Smesny; MR Schäfer; B Milleit; K Langbein; UC Hipler; C Milleit; CM Klier; M Schlögelhofer; M Holub; I Holzer; M Berk; PD McGorry; H Sauer; GP Amminger

Journal article

Niacin skin sensitivity is increased in adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis

GE Berger, S Smesny, MR Schäfer, B Milleit, K Langbein, UC Hipler, C Milleit, CM Klier, M Schlögelhofer, M Holub, I Holzer, M Berk, PD McGorry, H Sauer, GP Amminger

Plos One | PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE | Published : 2016

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148429

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Abstract

Background: Most studies provide evidence that the skin flush response to nicotinic acid (niacin) stimulation is impaired in schizophrenia. However, only little is known about niacin sensitivity in the ultra-high risk (UHR) phase of psychotic disorders. Methods: We compared visual ratings of niacin sensitivity between adolescents at UHR for psychosis according to the one year transition outcome (UHR-T n = 11; UHR-NT n = 55) with healthy controls (HC n = 25) and first episode schizophrenia patients (FEP n = 25) treated with atypical antipsychotics. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis niacin sensitivity of the entire UHR group was not attenuated, but significantly increased compared to the HC ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Michael Berk Author

Patrick McGorry Author

Paul Amminger Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The study was supported by Stanley Medical Research Institute, grant 03T-315. Dr. G. Paul Amminger was supported by grant 566529 from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia. The sponsor of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.