System and method for determining a discrimination index for fear-potentiated startle
Inventors
Assignees
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Publication Number
US-11559231-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-24
Expiration Date
2039-05-17
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Abstract
A method and system is provided for determining a discrimination index in a subject that may be suffering from or at risk for a stress-induced psychiatric disorder. The discrimination index may be equal to a ratio of a subject's cued fear response and non-cued fear response measured during a fear-potentiated startle (FPS) paradigm. Such a value may allow a physician or researcher to quantify how well a subject discriminates between signaled (cued) fear and un-signaled (non-cued) fear, which may be a biomarker for psychiatric disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. The determined discrimination index may provide a standardized way of diagnosing and evaluating mental illnesses, more uniform treatment of patients, and/or more precise monitoring and evaluation of treatment efficacy.
Core Innovation
The present invention provides a method and system for determining a discrimination index (DI) in a subject participating in a fear-potentiated startle (FPS) paradigm. The DI is calculated as the ratio of a subject’s cued fear response value to their non-cued fear response value, both measured during FPS procedures involving conditioned cue and non-cue trials. This approach allows for standardized quantification of how well a subject discriminates between signaled (cued) and un-signaled (non-cued) fear responses.
Existing methods for diagnosing and monitoring stress-induced psychiatric disorders such as PTSD, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder lack a standardized, quantitative behavioral biomarker derived from FPS results. The inability to discriminate between conditioned threats and safe stimuli is recognized as a hallmark characteristic of these conditions, but previously there was no reproducible method to assess or monitor this using FPS data.
By implementing the DI as described, the invention offers a repeatable and objective means for diagnosis, assessment of susceptibility or resilience, monitoring treatment efficacy, and guiding therapeutic interventions for stress-induced psychiatric disorders. The DI may be used as a biomarker, with values below or equal to 1 indicating risk or presence of disorder, and values above 1 indicating resilience or absence, thereby providing a standardized framework for clinicians and researchers.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers one main inventive feature relating to the determination and diagnostic use of a discrimination index based on cued and non-cued fear responses.
Method for determining discrimination index and diagnosing stress-induced psychiatric disorder
The method comprises: 1. Determining a cued fear response value and non-cued fear response value of a subject using an FPS protocol by: - Presenting the subject with a first plurality of startling noises and measuring corresponding baseline startle amplitudes. - Presenting a first plurality of cues, each co-terminating with an aversive stimulus. - Presenting a second plurality of startling noises after the cues. - Presenting a third plurality of startling noises in pseudorandom order, half coinciding with the cue and half alone, spaced 30 seconds apart. - Measuring first startle amplitudes (cue-present) and second startle amplitudes (noise alone), averaging these as defined. - Calculating: - Cued fear response value: (first startle amplitude value / second startle amplitude value) × 100. - Non-cued fear response value: (second startle amplitude value / baseline startle amplitude value) × 100. 2. Determining a discrimination index as the ratio of the cued fear response value to the non-cued fear response value. 3. Performing a diagnostic process by: - Diagnosing presence or susceptibility to a stress-induced psychiatric disorder if the discrimination index is less than or equal to 1. - Diagnosing absence or resilience if the index is greater than 1. 4. Administering a therapy to the subject if diagnosed for presence or susceptibility, wherein therapy includes a pharmaceutical agent (oxytocin) or an evidence-based psychotherapy.
The independent claim focuses on a comprehensive methodology for calculating, interpreting, and responding to a subject's discrimination index in FPS paradigms to objectively diagnose and treat stress-induced psychiatric disorders.
Stated Advantages
Provides a standardized, quantitative, and repeatable way to diagnose and evaluate stress-induced psychiatric disorders based on FPS results.
Enables more uniform treatment of patients and more precise monitoring and evaluation of treatment efficacy.
Facilitates harmonized data collection for clinicians and researchers, improving robustness and comparability of experimental research on mental illness diagnosis, progression, and treatment.
Documented Applications
Diagnosis and evaluation of stress-induced psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Monitoring progression and treatment efficacy of therapies (pharmaceutical or psychotherapeutic) in patients with stress-induced psychiatric disorders.
Guiding and determining optimal therapy types, dosages, or schedules based on the calculated discrimination index in clinical or research settings.
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