Plasma D-Serine, Glycine, Oxytocin, and Estrogen levels to be investigated in First Psychotic Episode

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, and understanding its early stages, particularly the First Psychotic Episode (FPE), is crucial for early intervention. Current treatments, primarily neuroleptics, manage symptoms but often don't address underlying biological mechanisms fully. The glutamatergic system, involving amino acids like D-Serine and Glycine, is hypothesized to play a role in schizophrenia pathology. Additionally, neurohormones like Oxytocin and Estrogen are also implicated, with potential imbalances contributing to disease onset and progression. Investigating these biomarkers in FPE patients could reveal critical insights into disease etiology and treatment response.

This study will investigate plasma levels of D-Serine, Glycine, other glutamatergic amino acids, Oxytocin, and Estrogen in patients experiencing a First Psychotic Episode (FPE). Measurements will be taken both before and after a short course of neuroleptic treatment. The patient group will be compared against first-degree relatives and healthy control subjects. Researchers hypothesize finding low Glycine and D-Serine levels in FPE patients, expecting normalization post-treatment, correlating with reduced positive and negative symptoms. They also hypothesize low Estrogen and high Oxytocin levels in FPE patients.