Pharmacopsychiatry 2025; 58(03): 140-141
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807293
Abstracts | AGNP/DGBP
Poster

Transdiagnostic types of formal thought disorder and their association with gray matter brain structure: a model-based cluster analytic approach

F Stein
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
A M Gudjons
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
K Brosch
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
6   Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
,
L M Keunecke
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
J-K Pfarr
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
L Teutenberg
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
F Thomas-Odenthal
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
P Usemann
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
H Wersching
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
A Wroblewski
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
K Flinkenflügel
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
J Goltermann
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
D Grotegerd
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
S Meinert
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
4   Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
K Thiel
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
A Winter
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
N Alexander
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
T Hahn
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
H Jamalabadi
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
A Jansen
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
A Krug
5   Department of Psychiatry und Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
,
I Nenadić
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
B Straube
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
U Dannlowski
3   Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
,
T Kircher
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
2   Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Background: Formal thought disorder (FTD) is a complex syndrome referring to impaired language and thought processes prevalent in psychotic and affective disorders. Clustering (i.e., identification of new data-driven clinical subtypes) approaches have established latent structures in several syndromes. But there is no data yet on FTD clustering across different disorders and particularly not on their brain structural correlates. Therefore, this study aims to identify transdiagnostic subtypes of FTD using a data-driven approach.

Methods: In N=1,032 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia (SZ), Schizoaffective Disorder (SZA), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Bipolar Disorder (BD), a latent profile analysis (LPA) of FTD was performed using ratings of 15 speech and language symptoms from rater-based scales (SANS, SAPS, YMRS, HAM-D). Identified clusters were compared with regard to FTD symptoms and neurocognitive functioning. We explored associations of FTD clusters with gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical surface using T1-weighted magnet-resonance-imaging data and full factorial models in SPM. Robustness-analyses in an age- and sex-matched subsample with the same n for each diagnosis were applied.

Results: LPA revealed 4 transdiagnostic clusters: minimal FTD, poverty, inhibition, severe FTD that remained stable in an age- and sex-matched subsample and in each diagnosis separately. Patients exhibiting severe FTD compared to minimal FTD showed GMV reductions in the right superior and middle frontal gyri. Inhibition showed a GMV reduction in the right inferior and middle temporal gyri, and fusiform gyrus compared with minimal and severe FTD. Sulcal depth was reduced around the left insula, superior temporal sulcus and temporal pole in the poverty cluster, and in the bilateral insula in the severe cluster, both compared to the inhibition cluster. No results for cortical thickness, gyrification, and complexity were found. Results from the total sample could be replicated in the matched subsample.

Conclusion: Our results unravel the clinical heterogeneity of FTD psychopathology across affective and psychotic disorders. Associations of FTD clusters with neuroanatomical substrates imply language-related brain structures being involved in thought and language impairment.



Publication History

Article published online:
30 April 2025

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