The ATP Project (Antipsychotic-TEP-Psychosis)

Impacts of Psychosis and Antipsychotics on Cerebral Energy Metabolism: the ATP Project (Antipsychotic-TEP-Psychosis)

The goal of this observational study is to the early impacts of psychosis and antipsychotic medications on brain metabolism in young adults recently diagnosed with a first episode of psychosis.

The main question aims to evaluate the effect of 4 to 6 weeks of antipsychotic medication on brain metabolism measured by PET scan (cerebral uptake of 11C-Acetoacetate + 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose).

Participants will undergo a multimodal imaging protocol with other measures of psychopathology (e.g., cognition, depressive symptoms, etc.) and (metabolic marker, inflammation, etc).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admission to the PEP clinic in Estrie, either outpatient or inpatient, according to the transdiagnostic PEP model.
• Willingness to begin taking an AP (regardless of type and dose, or change in type and dose during the study).
• Ability to read and express themselves in French or English.
• Capable of understanding and signing consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy, childbirth in the last 6 months, or breastfeeding.
• Presence of a metallic object in the body that is incompatible with MRI.
• Any use of APs for more than 2 continuous weeks in the past year and/or 6 weeks in a lifetime (except for aripiprazole if taken at less than 2.5 mg/day or quetiapine at less than 50 mg/day, regardless of duration or timing of the prescription).
• The following comorbidities: psychosis + borderline or intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorder with decompensation, psychosis induced by a medical condition, or psychosis induced by drug use or withdrawal.
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Uncontrolled acute suicidal ideation.
• Other conditions that could interfere with participation according to the judgment of the qualified physician.