Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30820633›Full record

ArticlePsychopharmacology2019

Altered glutamatergic response and functional connectivity in treatment resistant schizophrenia: the effect of riluzole and therapeutic implications.

Toby Pillinger, Maria Rogdaki, Robert A McCutcheon, Pamela Hathway, Alice Egerton, Oliver D Howes

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychopharmacology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
31citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

31 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Glutamatergic Modulation of Brain Function in Psychosis: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies.Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging · 2025
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  10. Does a monoclonal antibody targeting immune cells affect glutamatergic level in schizophrenia? A multimodal PET/MRS brain imaging study.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Toby PillingerInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6074-2626
Maria RogdakiInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England.
Robert A McCutcheonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England.
Pamela HathwayDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London, England.
Alice EgertonInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England.
Oliver D HowesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England. oliver.howes@kcl.ac.uk.
King's College London · GBImperial College London · GB

Funding

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation 094849/Z/10/ZMaudsely Charity 666Medical Research Council MC-A656-5QD30Medical Research Council MC_U120097115Wellcome Trust 200102Wellcome Trust 200102/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleAnterior cingulate cortex (ACC) glutamatergic abnormalities are reported in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and implicated in functional dysconnectivity and psychopathology. Preclinical evidence indicates riluzole reduces synaptic glutamate. However, it is unknown whether riluzole can modulate glutamate metabolite levels and associated functional connectivity in TRS.

objectivesTo examine the relationship between glutamatergic function and cortical connectivity and determine if riluzole can modulate glutamate metabolite levels and cortical functional connectivity in TRS.

methodsNineteen TRS patients and 18 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent magnetic resonance imaging consisting of MR spectroscopy measuring ACC glutamate plus glutamine (Glx), fMRI measuring resting ACC-functional connectivity, and arterial spin labelling measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), and clinical measures. They then received 50 mg riluzole twice daily for 2 days when imaging was repeated.

resultsBaseline (pre-riluzole) Glx levels were correlated directly with negative symptom severity (r = 0.49; p = 0.03) and inversely with verbal learning in TRS (r = - 0.63; p = 0.002), but not HV (r = - 0.24; p = 0.41). Connectivity between the ACC and anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) was correlated with verbal learning in TRS (r = 0.49; p = 0.04), but not HV (r = 0.28; p = 0.33). There was a significant group × time interaction effect on Glx levels (p < 0.05) and on ACC connectivity to the aPFC (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). Riluzole decreased Glx and increased ACC-aPFC connectivity in TRS relative to HV. Change in Glx correlated inversely with change in ACC-aPFC connectivity in TRS (r = - 0.52; p = 0.02) but not HV (r = 0.01; p = 0.98). Riluzole did not alter rCBF (p > 0.05), indicating absence of a non-specific blood flow effect.

conclusionResults indicate glutamatergic function and cortical connectivity are linked to symptoms and cognitive measures and that it is possible to pharmacologically modulate them in TRS.

Indexed as

Schizophrenic PsychologyAdultCerebrovascular CirculationExcitatory Amino Acid AntagonistsFemaleGlutamic AcidGyrus CinguliHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMagnetic Resonance SpectroscopyMaleMiddle AgedNerve NetRiluzoleSchizophreniaTreatment OutcomeExcitatory Amino Acid AntagonistsGlutamic AcidRiluzoleCognitiveGlutamateMRSNegativePsychosisRiluzoleSchizophreniaSpectroscopyTreatment resistant

Identifiers

PMID30820633
PMCPMC6642056
OpenAlexW2918962096

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.