In this episode, we discuss how the B-SNIP project is working to utilize biomarkers to redefine categories of psychosis across schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. We do our best to break down complicated math into digestible chunks to figure out how the authors go from collecting things like eye movements and EEG responses to sound in order to create a new way of classifying patients with psychosis. We end on the most important question--why should a practicing psychiatrist care about this anyway?
The paper we discuss is BA Clementz et al. Identification of Psychosis Biotypes Using Brain-Based Biomarkers. Am J Psychiatry 2016; 173(4): 373-384.
Here's the paper Dr Toups mentions about depression, biotypes, and treatment response: AT Drysdale et al. Resting-state connectivity biomarkers define neurophysiological subtypes of depression. Nature Medicine 2017; 23: 28-28.
The discussion about psychiatric nosology has led to some heated discussions and received a bit of attention in the popular press. The New Yorker's take is here.
We are not the only the psychiatry podcast that has discussed these questions. There's also an excellent discussion on the first episode of the podcast Ten to the Fifteenth, which is produced by the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative.