Sreeraj, V. S. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Protocol for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition, Quality Assurance, and Quality Check for the Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain Disorders using Stem Cells

ObjectiveThe Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain Disorders using Stem Cells (ADBS) is a longitudinal study focused on collecting and analysing clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and multimodal neuroimaging data from five cohorts of patients with major psychiatric disorders from genetically high-risk families, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy subjects. Here, we present a complete description of the acquisition of multimodal MRI data along with the quality assurance (QA) and quality check (QC) procedures that we are following in this study. MethodsThe QA procedure consists of monitoring of different quantitative measurements using an agar gel and a geometrical phantom. For the already acquired data from human subjects, we describe QC steps for each imaging modality. To quantify reliability of outcome measurements, we perform test-retest reliability on human volunteers. ResultsWe have presented results from analysis of phantom data and test-retest reliability on a human volunteer. Results show consistency in data acquisition and reliable quantification of different outcome measurements. ConclusionThe acquisition protocol and QA-QC procedures described here can yield consistent and reliable outcome measures. We hope to acquire and eventually release high quality longitudinal neuroimaging dataset that will serve the scientific community and pave the way for interesting discoveries.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Adverse childhood experiences in families with multiple members diagnosed to have psychiatric illnesses

ObjectiveAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to the development of a number of psychiatric illnesses in adulthood. Our study examined the pattern of ACEs and their relation to the age of onset (AAO) of major psychiatric conditions in individuals from families that had [≥] 2 first degree relatives with major psychiatric conditions (multiplex families) identified as part of an ongoing longitudinal study.\n\nMethodsOur sample consisted of 509 individuals from 215 families. Of these, 268 were affected i.e diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BPAD) (n=61), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (n=58), schizophrenia (n=52), substance dependence (SUD) (n=59), or co-occurring diagnoses (n=38); while 241 were at-risk first degree relatives (FDRs) who were either unaffected (n=210) or had other depressive or anxiety disorders (n=31). All individuals were evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences - International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and ACE binary and frequency scores were calculated.\n\nResultsIt was seen that affected males, as a group, had the greatest ACE scores in our sample. A cox mixed-effects model fit by gender revealed that higher ACE binary and frequency scores were associated with significantly increased risk for an earlier AAO of psychiatric diagnoses in males. A similar model that evaluated the effect of diagnosis revealed an earlier AAO in OCD and SUD, but not in schizophrenia and BPAD.\n\nConclusionsOur study indicates that ACEs brought forward the onset of major psychiatric conditions in men and in individuals diagnosed with OCD and SUD. Ongoing longitudinal assessments in FDRs from these families are expected to identify mechanisms underlying this relationship.

neuroscience↗