Exploring brain structural effects of dopaminergic antagonism and partial agonism in antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis using normative modeling

Abstract

Aim: Schizophrenia is associated with subtle brain structural alterations, but separating disease from medication effects is challenging. Antipsychotic dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) antagonism has been associated with striatal volume increases, but effects of partial D2R agonism by newer antipsychotics are largely unexplored. This study aimed to compare short-term brain changes associated with either D2R antagonism or partial D2R agonism using normative modeling. Secondarily, the study aimed to explore long-term effects following naturalistic treatment. Methods: Antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis received 6 weeks of monotherapy with either amisulpride (D2R antagonist) (N ..