RT Journal Article T1 The Influence of Oxytocin and Prolactin During a First Episode of Psychosis: The Implication of Sex Differences, Clinical Features, and Cognitive Performance. A1 Hidalgo-Figueroa, Maria A1 Salazar, Alejandro A1 Romero-Lopez-Alberca, Cristina A1 MacDowell, Karina S A1 Garcia-Bueno, Borja A1 Bioque, Miquel A1 Bernardo, Miquel A1 Parellada, Mara A1 Gonzalez-Pinto, Ana A1 Garcia Portilla, Maria Paz A1 Lobo, Antonio A1 Rodriguez-Jimenez, Roberto A1 Berrocoso, Esther A1 Leza, Juan C K1 First-episode psychosis K1 Cognition K1 Oxytocin K1 Prolactin K1 Sexual dimorphism AB Approximately 3% of the population suffers a first episode of psychosis (FEP), and a high percentage of these patients subsequently relapse. Because the clinical course following a FEP is hard to predict, it is of interest to identify cognitive and biological markers that will help improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of such events and to define new therapeutic targets. Here we analyzed the plasma oxytocin and prolactin levels during an FEP, assessing their correlation with clinical and cognitive features. The oxytocin and prolactin in plasma was measured in 120 FEP patients and 106 healthy controls, all of whom were subjected to a clinical and neuropsychological assessment. Most patients were under antipsychotics. Statistical analyses aimed to identify factors associated with the FEP and to search for associations between the variables. This study is preliminary and exploratory because the P-values were not corrected for multiple comparisons. FEP patients had less oxytocin, more prolactin, and a poor premorbid IQ, and they performed worse in sustained attention. Male patients with higher prolactin levels experienced more severe psychotic symptoms and required higher doses of antipsychotics. Low oxytocin was associated with poor sustained attention in women, whereas low oxytocin and high prolactin in men correlated with better performance in sustained attention. Low oxytocin, high prolactin, and poor premorbid IQ and sustained attention are factors associated with an FEP, representing potential therapeutic targets in these patients. These biological factors and cognitive domains might play an important role during a FEP, which could help us to develop new strategies that improve the outcomes of this disorder and that should perhaps be gender specific. YR 2022 FD 2022-03-24 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19802 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19802 LA en NO Hidalgo-Figueroa M, Salazar A, Romero-López-Alberca C, MacDowell KS, García-Bueno B, Bioque M, et al. The Influence of Oxytocin and Prolactin During a First Episode of Psychosis: The Implication of Sex Differences, Clinical Features, and Cognitive Performance. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2022 Aug 16;25(8):666-677 NO This work was supported by CIBERSAM Intramural Projects 2010 (P02) “Flamm- PEPs, inflammatory alterations in schizophrenia: search of biological markers in first-psychotic episodes,”Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI1100325). R.R.J. was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias/FEDER (PI19/00766) and by theMadrid Regional Government (S2017/BMD-3740). M.P.G.-P. wassupported by the Government of the Principality of Asturias (PCTI-2018–2022 IDI/2018/235). M.H.-F. was supported by the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and by the Department of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Regional Government of Andalusia (FEDER-UCA18-106933). DS RISalud RD Apr 19, 2025