Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience
Aberrant salience, defined as the inappropriate attribution of significance to neutral stimuli, is increasingly recognized as a critical mechanism in the onset of psychotic disorders. In young individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis, abnormal salience processing may serve as a precursor t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Pediatric Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/17/3/63 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850164860471476224 |
|---|---|
| author | Giuseppe Marano Francesco Maria Lisci Greta Sfratta Ester Maria Marzo Francesca Abate Gianluca Boggio Gianandrea Traversi Osvaldo Mazza Roberto Pola Eleonora Gaetani Marianna Mazza |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Marano Francesco Maria Lisci Greta Sfratta Ester Maria Marzo Francesca Abate Gianluca Boggio Gianandrea Traversi Osvaldo Mazza Roberto Pola Eleonora Gaetani Marianna Mazza |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Marano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aberrant salience, defined as the inappropriate attribution of significance to neutral stimuli, is increasingly recognized as a critical mechanism in the onset of psychotic disorders. In young individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis, abnormal salience processing may serve as a precursor to full-blown psychotic symptoms, contributing to distorted perceptions and the onset of psychotic ideation. This review examines current literature on aberrant salience among UHR youth, exploring its neurobiological, psychological, and behavioral dimensions. Through a comprehensive analysis of studies involving neuroimaging, cognitive assessments, and symptomatology, we assess the consistency of findings across diverse methodologies. Additionally, we evaluate factors contributing to aberrant salience, including neurochemical imbalances, dysregulation in dopamine pathways, and environmental stressors, which may jointly increase psychosis vulnerability. Identifying aberrant salience as a measurable trait in UHR populations could facilitate earlier identification and targeted interventions. Implications for clinical practice are discussed, highlighting the need for specialized therapeutic approaches that address cognitive and emotional dysregulation in salience attribution. Recent research underscores the importance of aberrant salience in early psychosis research and advocates for further studies on intervention strategies to mitigate progression to psychosis among UHR individuals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4391a748eb6c451c8013a83ce1323dfd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2036-7503 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pediatric Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4391a748eb6c451c8013a83ce1323dfd2025-08-20T02:21:52ZengMDPI AGPediatric Reports2036-75032025-06-011736310.3390/pediatric17030063Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant SalienceGiuseppe Marano0Francesco Maria Lisci1Greta Sfratta2Ester Maria Marzo3Francesca Abate4Gianluca Boggio5Gianandrea Traversi6Osvaldo Mazza7Roberto Pola8Eleonora Gaetani9Marianna Mazza10Unit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Isola Tiberina-Gemelli Isola, 00186 Rome, ItalySpine Surgery Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalySection of Internal Medicine and Thromboembolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyAberrant salience, defined as the inappropriate attribution of significance to neutral stimuli, is increasingly recognized as a critical mechanism in the onset of psychotic disorders. In young individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis, abnormal salience processing may serve as a precursor to full-blown psychotic symptoms, contributing to distorted perceptions and the onset of psychotic ideation. This review examines current literature on aberrant salience among UHR youth, exploring its neurobiological, psychological, and behavioral dimensions. Through a comprehensive analysis of studies involving neuroimaging, cognitive assessments, and symptomatology, we assess the consistency of findings across diverse methodologies. Additionally, we evaluate factors contributing to aberrant salience, including neurochemical imbalances, dysregulation in dopamine pathways, and environmental stressors, which may jointly increase psychosis vulnerability. Identifying aberrant salience as a measurable trait in UHR populations could facilitate earlier identification and targeted interventions. Implications for clinical practice are discussed, highlighting the need for specialized therapeutic approaches that address cognitive and emotional dysregulation in salience attribution. Recent research underscores the importance of aberrant salience in early psychosis research and advocates for further studies on intervention strategies to mitigate progression to psychosis among UHR individuals.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/17/3/63aberrant saliencepsychosisearly interventionsultra-high risk (UHR) |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Marano Francesco Maria Lisci Greta Sfratta Ester Maria Marzo Francesca Abate Gianluca Boggio Gianandrea Traversi Osvaldo Mazza Roberto Pola Eleonora Gaetani Marianna Mazza Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience Pediatric Reports aberrant salience psychosis early interventions ultra-high risk (UHR) |
| title | Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience |
| title_full | Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience |
| title_fullStr | Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience |
| title_short | Targeting the Roots of Psychosis: The Role of Aberrant Salience |
| title_sort | targeting the roots of psychosis the role of aberrant salience |
| topic | aberrant salience psychosis early interventions ultra-high risk (UHR) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/17/3/63 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giuseppemarano targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT francescomarialisci targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT gretasfratta targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT estermariamarzo targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT francescaabate targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT gianlucaboggio targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT gianandreatraversi targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT osvaldomazza targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT robertopola targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT eleonoragaetani targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience AT mariannamazza targetingtherootsofpsychosistheroleofaberrantsalience |