Schneiderian first rank symptoms in schizophrenia: A developmental neuroscience evaluation

AbstractIntroductionSelf disorders in schizophrenia have been suggested to have distinct neurobiological underpinnings. Using comprehensive neuro‐scientific assessments including a neurophysiological, a neurochemical and a neuropsychological marker, this study assesses disordered‐“self” in schizophrenia.MethodsTwenty schizophrenia patients with first rank symptoms (FRS;FRS+), 20 patients without FRS (FRS−) and 20 healthy controls (HC) were assessed for psychopathology, especially on specially designed FRS score sheets with a narrow and a broad definition. Resting state electroencephalography was acquired using 256‐electrodes; gamma spectral‐power was measured in 8 regions of interest. Serum BDNF and self‐monitoring were also assessed. Comparative and correlation analysis were conducted in addition to a step‐wise discriminant function analysis.ResultsFRS+ group with greater positive symptom score and a lower negative symptom score, showed significantly increased gamma spectral power, especially on right hemispheric regions, along with lower BDNF levels and lower scores on self‐monitoring compared to FRS− and HC. Serum BDNF levels and gamma spectral power in the region corresponding