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. 2012 May 8;2(5):e110. doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.35

Distinct neurometabolic profiles are evident in the anterior cingulate of young people with major psychiatric disorders

D F Hermens 1,*, J Lagopoulos 1, S L Naismith 1, J Tobias-Webb 1, I B Hickie 1
PMCID: PMC3365254  PMID: 22832954

Abstract

Currently, there are no validated neurobiological methods for distinguishing different pathophysiological pathways in young patients presenting in the early phases of major psychiatric disorders. Hence, treatments are delivered simply on the basis of their possible effects on nonspecific symptom constructs such as depression, cognitive change or psychotic symptoms. In this study, the ratios (relative to creatine) of key metabolites (N-acetyl aspartate, myoinositol, glutamate and glutathione) were measured with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) within the anterior cingulate cortex of 88 young persons presenting with major mood or psychotic symptoms. We derived empirically (using a cluster analytical technique) three subgroups of subjects on the basis of their patterns of in vivo brain biochemistry. The three subgroups were distinguished (from each other) by all the four metabolites, in particular, glutathione and glutamate. By contrast, the groups could not be distinguished by differences in terms of other demographic, functional or clinical measures. We propose that this 1H-MRS-based subclassification system could be used as the basis for much more specific tests of novel intervention strategies (notably, antioxidant and glutamatergic therapies) early in the course of major psychiatric disorders.

Keywords: anterior cingulate, glutamate, glutathione, psychiatric, spectroscopy, youth

Introduction

The failure to identify clear neurobiological markers of the pathophysiological pathways underpinning the severe mood or psychotic disorders remains a major limitation in clinical psychiatry. Currently-used diagnostic categories map poorly onto proposed risk factors or persistent pathophysiology. An alternative clinical strategy has been to focus attention more specifically on those in the earliest active phases of the major mood and psychotic disorders.1 However, young persons (typically 15–25 years) presenting to care close to the onset of illness typically report admixtures of anxiety, depressive, hypomanic or psychotic symptoms.2 Although clearly disabled by these symptoms,3 they do not fit readily into current diagnostic categories.

The development of a clinical staging model to categorize these various early phases of illness is useful for testing the benefits of a variety of intervention strategies.1, 4, 5 However, the real utility of these promising ‘pre-emptive'6 or ‘early intervention'7 strategies may well depend on our capacity to identify genuine neurobiological markers of active pathophysiology during these early active phases of illness. Rather than assuming that current diagnostic systems relate to specific developmental or current pathophysiologies, we propose that group membership based on direct measures of brain structure or function may prove to be a more valid approach.8

In this study, we explore the capacity of four key markers to create novel groupings based on various biochemical measures derived by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The four markers are: (i) N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), a validated marker of neuronal density and viability9, 10 (NAA is an amino acid thought to be present entirely within neurons and axons but absent in glial cells.) (ii) myoinositol (MI), which is purported to be only present in glial cells (specifically the astrocytes) and as such increased concentrations are thought to reflect glial activation;11 (iii) glutamate (GLU), which is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter (precise information processing is dependent on fast and efficient removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft.);12 and (iv) glutathione (GSH), which is a predominant intracellular antioxidant, principally involved in neutralizing reactive oxygen species generated within the brain.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has already produced a number of important insights into the neurobiology of a range of psychiatric conditions. Many of these studies have focused on (or included) the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a structure that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder,13 depression14, 15 and schizophrenia.16, 17 The ACC is critically involved in performance monitoring and cognitive control and has a key role in emotional and social behavior.18 The ACC comprises a dorsal (cognitive) division and a rostral–ventral (affective) division. The dorsal subdivision has been associated with modulation of attention to influence sensory or response selection, complex motor control and motivation. The rostral–ventral subdivision is thought to be primarily involved in assessing the salience of emotional and motivational information and the regulation of emotional responses.

Although there have been a significant number of studies of these markers, individually across a range of psychiatric disorders, few studies have assessed NAA, MI and GLU in the same individuals and none of the studies have included all four spectroscopic markers (including GSH). Although there are methodological differences, there appears to be little consistency within each diagnostic category, suggesting that other factors may be better matched with underlying brain changes.

Empirically-based approaches to subject grouping are not often employed in clinical psychiatry. In our view, such data-driven approaches may identify putative biomarkers that, with further experimental characterization, may describe or explain illness trajectories beyond (or in spite of) diagnostic phenotype. Such neurobiological markers may also be more predictive of disability, functional status, cognitive impairment or response to specific treatments. Cluster analysis is a classification technique for forming homogeneous groups within complex data sets.19 Ideally, a good cluster solution is obtained when the data segregate into theoretically meaningful subsets;20 in this sense, cluster analysis can be used as a hypothesis-generating technique.21 In this study, we performed a cluster analysis utilizing four key neurometabolites (ie NAA, MI, GLU and GSH) measured within the ACC in a large sample of young (16–30 years old), health-seeking psychiatric outpatients.

Materials and methods

Eighty eight outpatients aged 16–30 years were recruited from specialized referral services for the assessment and early intervention of mental health problems in young people.22 Patients were assessed by a psychiatrist, according to DSM-IV criteria, who also made a primary diagnosis of an axis I psychiatric disorder (ie depressive disorder (n=37), bipolar disorder (n=29) or psychotic disorder (n=22)).23 All patients were receiving clinician-based case management and relevant psychosocial interventions at the time of assessment. Additionally, patients who were treated with psychotropic medications were assessed under ‘treatment as usual' conditions, whereby their normal medications were not altered. At the time of assessment, 12% of the patients were not taking any psychotropic medications; 53% were taking a second-generation anti-depressant; 53% were taking an atypical antipsychotic medication; and 23% were taking a mood stabilizer. Of those medicated, 54% were taking more than one of these psychotropic medications; for the majority of these patients (44% of those medicated) this polytherapy included an antidepressant.

The healthy control group (n=25) was recruited from the community via advertisements. Exclusion criteria for all participants were medical instability (as determined by the treating psychiatrist), history of neurological disease (eg tumour, head trauma, epilepsy), medical illness known to impact cognitive and brain function (eg cancer, ECT in last 3 months), intellectual and/or developmental disability (a predicted IQ score <70), insufficient English for testing or psychiatric assessment and current substance dependence. Participants were asked to abstain from drug and alcohol use for 48 h before testing. The study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee and all participants gave written informed consent.

Clinical assessment

An independent psychiatrist or trained research psychologist conducted a structured clinical interview to determine the nature and history of any mental health problems. This interview served as a means to screen control subjects for past psychiatric disorders and current symptoms. The interview included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17-item)24 to quantify current mood symptoms; the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale25 to quantify general psychiatric symptoms at the time of assessment; and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale,26 where a participant's functioning is rated from 0 to 100, with lower scores suggesting more severe impairment. All participants were also asked to complete the Kessler-10,27 which is a brief self-report instrument designed to detect psychological distress and affective caseness.28 As a proxy measure for duration of illness, the age at which each patient first engaged a mental health service was recorded.

1H-MRS data acquisition

1H-MRS data were acquired using a 3-T GE Discovery MR750 MRI scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA), using an 8-channel-phased array head coil. The protocol comprised of a three-dimensional sagittal whole-brain scout for orientation and positioning of all subsequent scans (TR=50 ms; TE=4 ms; 256matrix; no averaging, z=5 mm thickness). To aid in the anatomical localization of sampled voxels, a T1-weighted Magnetization Prepared RApid Gradient-Echo (MPRAGE) sequence producing 196 sagittal slices (TR=7.2 m; TE=2.8 m; flip angle=10° matrix 256 × 256; 0.9 mm isotropic voxels) was also acquired. Finally, single voxel 1H-MRS using a Point RESolved Spectroscopy (PRESS) acquisition with two chemical shift-selective imaging pulses for water suppression was acquired from a voxel placed midline in the ACC, with the following parameters: TE=35 m, TR=2000 m, 128 averages voxel size 2 × 2 × 2 cm. Anatomical localization of voxel placement was based on the Talaraich brain atlas29 and positioning was guided by the T1 MPRAGE image as shown in Figure 1. All spectra were shimmed (using automatic and manual higher-order shimming) to achieve full-width half maximum of <13 Hz. Before any postprocessing, all spectra were visually inspected, separately by two independent raters, to ensure the consistency of the data. Poorly fitted metabolite peaks as reflected by large Cramer–Rao Lower Bounds (CRLB) were excluded from further analysis. Subjects' data was included in this study if the CRLB was less than 20%.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Left panel: Sagittal views of representative T1-weighted images illustrating the voxel placement for the anterior cingulate (white box). Right panel: Water-suppressed spectra (sampled from the anterior cingulate) processed using LCModel from a single representative subject. : GLU, glutamate; GSH, glutathione; MI, myoinositol; NAA, N-acetylaspartate.

1H-MRS spectrum analysis

Spectra were quantified with the LCModel software package30 using a PRESS TE=35 basis set of 15 metabolites (included NAA, GLU, MI and GSH) and incorporating macromolecule and baseline fitting routines. The coordinates of the ACC voxels were determined in the SAGE (Spectroscopy Analysis GE) software package and the reconstructed acquisition voxels were then corrected for gray-matter content. For segmentation, individual structural images used for voxel placement were segmented into gray matter, white matter and CSF using the FAST4 algorithm as implemented in FSL.31 To determine the sensitivity of the acquisition technique and validate the GSH findings reported in this manuscript, we also undertook an in vitro phantom experiment. Varying physiological concentrations of GSH (0–7.0 mM) were mixed together with creatine, glutamate, glutamine and phosphate (which were all present in physiological brain concentrations), and the linear dependence of GSH was calculated to be R2=0.994 (see Figure 2). Statistical analyses were then conducted on the following gray matter-corrected metabolites, NAA, MI, GLU and GSH. All subsequent metabolite levels were reported as ratios over creatine.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Results from an in vitro phantom study used to validate the GSH spectroscopy findings.

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 20.0. Values of the four MRS variables (NAA/Cr, MI/Cr, GLU/Cr, GSH/Cr), which were standardized across the sample of patients, so that they could be compared with each other. A hierarchical cluster analyses utilizing Wards method of minimum variance with a squared Euclidean distance measure was conducted to identify spectroscopic profiles. The cluster analysis technique was based on our previous neuropsychological study8 and statistical recommendations.32

One-way between-subject analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the differences in demographic, functional and clinical variables among cluster groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the ratio of females to males across cluster groups. Significance levels were set at P<0.05. Effect sizes were calculated (d=mean difference/mean s.d.) to evaluate pair-wise group comparisons (where d>0.8 was considered to be of large effect size). A confirmatory (standard) discriminant function analysis (DFA) was performed to determine which spectroscopic variables best distinguished the cluster groups.

Results

Cluster characteristics

Agglomeration coefficients generated by cluster analysis revealed a demarcation point between three- and four-cluster solutions, suggesting that a three-cluster solution best distinguished all the cases, which was subsequently confirmed by inspection of the dendrogram. The resultant clustering revealed three relatively well-sized groups (cluster 1: n=20; cluster 2: n=28; cluster 3: n=29), indicating that the appropriate number of clusters was selected. It should be noted that 11 cases were not included in the final analysis; 9 cases were excluded owing to CRLB scores, exceeding 20% for at least one spectroscopic variable, and the remaining 2 because gray matter segmentation could not be performed owing to excessive movement or poor gray–white matter differentiation in the structural image. The resultant spectroscopic profiles for the three cluster groups are depicted in Figure 3. ANOVA determined significant (all P<0.01) main effects of cluster group for three of the four spectroscopic variables. As indicated in Figure 3, the largest effect sizes were evident for NAA/Cr (between clusters 1 and 3; d=2.2) and GLU/Cr (between clusters 1 and 3; d=2.1). Across all the four variables, the smallest difference observed was for MI/Cr levels between cluster 1 and cluster 3 (d=0.3).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Profile of standardized scores (with s.e. bars) for ACC-derived spectroscopic (neurometabolite) variables by cluster group. Cr, creatine; GLU, glutamate; GSH, glutathione; MI, myoinositol; NAA, N-acetylaspartate.

The three cluster groups were compared in terms of demographic, functional and clinical variables (see Table 1). According to χ2 analysis, the clusters do not differ significantly in the distribution of each gender. ANOVAs for the subsequent variables revealed no main effects of cluster group for any of the remaining demographic, functional or clinical variables. Similarly, the three cluster groups did not differ significantly (according to χ2 tests) with respect to the distribution of primary diagnoses or type of medication (see Table 2).

Table 1. Mean scores (±s.d.) for demographic and clinical variables across clusters; between group differences were tested by χ2 or ANOVA.

  Cluster 1 (N=20) Cluster 2 (N=28) Cluster 3 (N=29) Significance test (P) Effect sizes, d
 Controls (N=25)
          1 vs 2 1 vs 3 2 vs 3  
Sex (f/m)
 11/9
 16/12
 15/14
 χ2 (2, 77)=0.2 (0.918)
 n.a.
 n.a.
 n.a.
 11/14
Age, years 22.0±3.6 22.2±3.7 22.8±4.0 F (2, 76)=0.3 (0.745) 0.1 0.2 0.1 23.0±2.6
Predicted IQ 104.5±6.8 106.3±7.6 103.8±7.7 F (2, 73)=0.8 (0.454) 0.2 0.1 0.3 104.8±8.2
Education, years 12.9±2.0 13.8±2.4 13.8±2.2 F (2, 76)=1.3 (0.280) 0.4 0.4 0.0 14.6±1.8
SOFAS 61.7±10.7 62.9±11.8 62.9±14.0 F (2, 73)=0.1 (0.936) 0.1 0.1 0.0 91.0±2.5
K-10 total 29.7±8.7 23.9±8.0 25.2±8.4 F (2, 73)=2.7 (.070) 0.7 0.5 0.2 15.4±6.8
HDRS total 15.3±8.1 11.1±6.7 10.9±7.5 F (2, 75)=2.4 (0.101) 0.6 0.5 0.0 1.7±2.2
BPRS total 42.1±8.5 39.9±8.9 39.5±9.2 F (2, 74)=0.5 (0.588) 0.2 0.3 0.0 26.8±3.3
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Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; BPRS, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; f, female; HDRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; K-10, Kessler-10; m, male; SOFAS, Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale.

Effect sizes (d) for each pair-wise cluster comparison are also provided. †denote large effect sizes (d>0.8). Scores for the control group are also provided.

Table 2. Cross-tabulation of cluster-group by (a) primary diagnosis (top panel) and (b) type of current medication (bottom panel).

  Cluster 1 (N=20) Cluster 2 (N=28) Cluster 3 (N=29)
(a) Primary diagnosis
 Depression
  Count 10 10 15
  % 50.0% 35.7% 51.7%
       
 Bipolar
  Count 5 7 9
  % 25.0% 25.0% 31.0%
       
 Psychosis
  Count 5 11 5
  % 25.0% 39.3% 17.2%
       
(b) Current medication
 NIL
  Count 2 3 4
  % 10.0% 10.7% 3.8%
       
 Any antidepressant
  Count 15 14 17
  % 75.0% 50.0% 58.6%
       
 Any antipsychotic
  Count 11 18 15
  % 55.0% 64% 51.7%
       
 Any mood stabilizer
  Count 2 7 8
  % 10.0% 25.0% 27.6%
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χ2 for (i) cluster group by primary diagnosis (χ2(4, 77)=3.8, P=0.440); (ii) cluster group by ‘any antidepressant' (χ2(2, 77)=3.2, P=0.201); (ii) cluster group by ‘any antipsychotic' (χ2(2, 77)=1.0, P=0.616); (ii) cluster group by ‘any mood stabiliser' (χ2(2, 77)=2.3, P=0.309).

Discriminant function analysis

With the four spectroscopic variables entered (simultaneously) as predictors, DFA confirmed the distinct neurometabolite profiles by generating two functions to separate the 3 cluster groups. The first function accounted for 60% of the differences among the clusters (Wilk's λ=0.191, P<0.001). The second function explained the remaining variance (40%) and was also statistically significant (Wilk's λ=0.490, P<0.001). The structure matrix showed a clear delineation, with function-1 being characterized by a high discriminant loading for GLU/Cr (r=0.716) and MI/Cr (r=−0.803), whereas function-2 was characterized by GSH/Cr (r=−0.753).

Comparison with healthy controls

As a secondary analysis, we sought to determine whether there were any potential abnormalities in the spectroscopic variables of each cluster group as compared with those of healthy controls. Twenty-five controls (aged 18–28 years) were selected consecutively with the goal of achieving a similar gender ratio (56% females) as the patient group (54% female). Omnibus ANOVA showed that the controls did not significantly differ from the three cluster groups in terms of age (F (3, 101)=0.421, P=0.739), years of education (F (3, 101)=2.491, P=0.065) or predicted IQ (F (3, 93)=0.511, P=0.676). Post hoc Dunnett's tests revealed only one significant difference (P<0.05) between any of the cluster groups and controls; cluster 1 had fewer (12.9±2.1) years of education compared with the controls (14.6±1.8 years).

The GM-corrected concentration scores for each metabolite/creatine across each cluster group were compared with controls (see Figure 4) and Dunnett's tests revealed the following: (i) cluster 1 had significantly (P<0.001) higher levels of NAA/Cr and GLU/Cr; (ii) cluster 2 had significantly lower levels of MI/Cr (P<0.05) but higher levels of GSH/Cr (P<0.01) and (ii) cluster 3 had significantly higher levels of MI/Cr compared with controls.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Gray-matter-corrected neurometabolite (clockwise from top left panel: NAA; MI; GLU; GSH) ratio to creatine (with standard error bars) for each cluster group versus controls.

Discussion

This study proposes that three distinct subgroups of young patients presenting with admixtures of depressive and psychotic symptoms can be identified on the basis of 1H-MRS-derived ACC neurometabolite profiles. Notably, membership of these subgroups did not reflect other demographic or clinical features (for example, age, sex ratio, education, predicted IQ, current symptoms, psychological distress or distribution of primary diagnoses and current medication).

Three subgroup profiles were identified. Cluster 1, representing 26% of the cases, was characterized by increased levels of both NAA/Cr and GLU/Cr. This pattern of findings may represent a relationship between failed neuronal pruning (represented by increased NAA) and a consequent hyperfunctioning of (the glutamatergic) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) system.33 Cluster 2 (36% of the sample) was characterized by high levels of GSH/Cr and low levels of MI/Cr. Elevated GSH signifies an increased capacity for the removal of reactive oxygen species most often due to increased accumulation of these free radicals. Taken together with decreased levels of MI, which is predominantly contained within the astrocyte, this may be reflective of mechanisms that underpin an oxidative stress reaction that may include the collateral elimination of glia. Cluster 3 (38% of the sample) was characterized by low levels of NAA/Cr, GLU/Cr and GSH/Cr suggestive of disruptions in GLU synthesis and neurotransmission. The observed reduction in GLU may also, in part, account for the reduced GSH, as GLU (along with cysteine and glycine) is a precursor of GSH synthesis. Aberrations in the bioavailability of GLU may ultimately result in a decrease in the brain's capacity to effectively neutralize reactive oxygen species via oxidative stress mechanisms.

Our findings suggest that there may be an association between NAA/Cr and GLU/Cr across the cluster groups, as evidenced by cluster 1 showing the highest levels of both metabolites, whereas cluster 3 showed the lowest levels of each. To our knowledge, few studies have demonstrated an association between in vivo NAA and GLU levels in psychiatric cohorts. A recent study34 has shown a strong correlation between absolute NAA and GLU concentrations in the hippocampus of older patients with stable bipolar disorder and although the GLU levels were significantly increased (compared with controls), their NAA levels were apparently normal. Numerous studies have shown that within the ACC, NAA is significantly decreased in patients with psychosis,17, 35, 36, 37 bipolar disorder38, 39 and depression.40, 41, 42, 43 However, the stage of illness may assume an important role with evidence of increased ACC-NAA in adolescents with bipolar disorder44 as well as in young adults with first-episode depression.42 There are also reports of no differences in ACC-NAA between ultra-high risk and first-episode psychosis individuals and healthy controls.45

Similarly, there are mixed findings with respect to ACC–GLU across various patient groups at various stages of illness; this particular literature has been made even more complicated by the use of various 1H-MRS indices of in vivo GLU levels. A recent meta-analysis46 concluded that although ACC-GLU is reduced in major depression, it may be state-dependent. Similarly, decreased ACC–GLU has been reported in schizophrenia.47, 48 However, there are also null findings for psychosis,49 bipolar disorder50 and depression51 as well as separate evidence of increased ACC–GLU levels in bipolar disorder13, 52 and psychosis.49 A recent review53 has suggested that GLU may distinguish depressive from manic episodes, with reduced levels consistent with the former and increased levels consistent with the latter. Our findings do not support this supposition, but there are subgroups of patients that differ in neurochemical profiles, and not necessarily their symptomatology or diagnosis.

Only one cluster group was distinguished by their levels of MI; although the remaining cluster groups showed normal levels, cluster 2 showed significantly decreased MI levels as compared with controls. Although decreased MI level has been shown within the ACC of those with major depression43, 54 and schizophrenia,48 there have been reports of null findings in bipolar disorder55 and depression56 as well as increased levels of ACC-MI in bipolar disorder.52

Interestingly, the least studied of these four metabolites, GSH, was strongly loaded onto the second DFA-determined function, which accounted for 40% of the variance between the clusters. Furthermore, as indicated in Figure 3, GSH appears to be the metabolite that most clearly distinguishes all three of the cluster groups. There are few studies that have assessed the GSH levels directly in relevant patient samples. Do et al.57 reported a significant decrease (∼50%) of GSH within the prefrontal cortex of schizophreniform/schizophrenia patients. Matsuzawa et al.58 found no differences in GSH levels within the posterior medial frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients as compared with controls. By contrast, Wood et al.59 reported that GSH levels were increased in the medial temporal lobes of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. The latter authors attributed their reverse findings for GSH to the earlier clinical phase of their patients (that is compared with studies of older patients with chronic schizophrenia). This suggests that early in illness, at least for a subset of FEP patients, as there may be an oxidative stress reaction, a compensatory response is mounted (characterized by a surge in GSH).

Membership of these groups (according to this study) could now be used as the basis for stratifying future clinical trials of the efficacy of either novel (for example, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant therapies, glutamatergic agents) or other standard treatments (for example, antidepressants, Lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics). Further, the importance of the GSH findings would point on the systematic evaluation of agents that may reduce oxidative stress early in the course of illness. Additionally, the change in metabolic profile in relation to each of the treatments provided has the potential to be used as a primary outcome measure. The extent to which the change in any measure (or profile of measures) is correlated with improved short- or long-term outcomes would need to be evaluated concurrently.

A major limitation of this study was the use of metabolite ratios to Cr rather than absolute concentration. This makes comparisons with some (particularly more recent) studies more difficult. In previous research, ratios to Cr have been employed as a means to reduce subject-specific variations in MRS data; recently, however, it has been suggested60 that this approach may be limited. Indeed some studies have found significant differences in absolute Cr levels for schizophrenia,60 bipolar disorder13 and depression61 within the ACC/PFC as compared with healthy controls. On the other hand, there are studies that have provided evidence of no significant differences in absolute Cr concentration within the ACC of those with schizophrenia,35, 47, 49 bipolar disorder60, 62 and depression.54, 56 The issues relating to Cr ratios are vexed, however, by not determining absolute metabolite concentrations, we cannot rule out the potential confounds associated with ratio measurements. Equally, in this respect, it should be borne in mind that no significant difference in LCModel-determined Cr concentration was detected across all clusters.

Another limitation of this study was the potential influence of medication on spectroscopic findings. Although the distribution of medication exposure was relatively balanced across the cluster groups, the potential effects of psychotropic medications on each of these spectroscopic markers cannot be ruled out. Although some studies63, 64 have found that antipsychotic exposure is associated with reduced NAA levels, there is conflicting evidence35 that these medications (as well as illness duration) have no direct effects on this neurometabolite. In support of this, Bustillo et al.65 found that there were no further changes in NAA or glutamine (GLN)/GLU within the ACC following 12 months of antipsychotic treatment in a sample of young ‘minimally-treated' schizophrenia patients. However, this study did not account for the potential effects of past substance use, and therefore the impact of this cannot be ruled out. Further, our attempt to compare the neurometabolite levels of each cluster group with those of healthy controls may have been compromised by subtle differences in age and years of education. Future studies would benefit by undertaking larger case–control and longitudinal designs to explicate the apparent abnormalities in the neurochemical markers revealed here.

Comparisons with some of the existing literature are difficult owing to the differences in acquisition parameters as well as hardware characteristics. This is particularly pertinent with respect to GSH, which under ‘normal' experimental settings is difficult to resolve even at 3 T. The quality of the data in such a setting is dependant on adequate signal to noise (SNR) ratio, and to this end the effective shimming of the scanner. Most reliably, GSH is resolved at 3 T using a MEGAPRESS acquisition sequence or quantum filtering techniques, however, with adequate SNR, it is also possible to resolve GSH using short TE-PRESS sequence with the appropriate use of a GSH basis set for analysis. In the case of our study, we were able to resolve GSH using an optimized TE=35 PRESS sequence with all subjects included in the final analysis having CRLBs of less than 20%. A similar argument also exists for resolving GLU from GLN. Although we did not investigate GLN in our study, we did reliably resolve GLU from GLN by negating the need to report a combined ‘GLX' metabolite. Voxel size and placement can also differ substantially across studies, and in some cases, large ‘prefrontal cortex' voxels can include the ACC (for example, see Taylor et al.51). In addition, the relative content of gray matter, white matter and CSF within voxels across studies can also differ and as such can have an influence on the final metabolite concentration. Although in our study, we segmented the ACC voxel, and the results reported herein are those for gray matter only, comparisons with other studies that have not similarly corrected the acquisition voxel for gray matter content become more difficult.

If the field of translational psychiatry is ever likely to make real progress, then there is an urgent need to move away from poorly-validated diagnostic categories as the basis of evaluating potential markers of underlying pathophysiologies. This is particularly so when seeking to move clinical psychiatry from a late to an early-intervention focus (which is currently justified largely on the basis of reducing secondary psychosocial impairment rather than changing illness trajectories2). This study presents evidence that neurometabolic profiles, recorded by 1H-MRS, may have a much greater capacity to differentiate young people than traditional clinical phenotypes, and that such differences in profiles may lead to more specific and targeted intervention studies.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the NHMRC Program Grant (No. 566529), Centres of Clinical Research Excellence Grant (No. 264611), NHMRC Australian Fellowship (No. 511921) and Clinical Research Fellowship (No. 402864). We would like to thank Manreena Kaur and Shantel Duffy for their assistance with data collection. We would also like to express our gratitude to individuals that participated in this study.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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