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Abnormal brain white matter in schizophrenia: a diffusion tensor imaging study
I Agartz1, J L Andersson, S Skare
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Human Brain Informatics, Psychiatry Section, and 1MR Center, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
Neuroreport
|July 12, 2001
Summary
This study found reduced fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum and white matter of schizophrenic patients, indicating white matter abnormalities in schizophrenia. Mean diffusion was increased, supporting global white matter changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder.
- Previous research suggests potential white matter abnormalities in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter integrity in patients with chronic schizophrenia using diffusion tensor imaging.
- To compare diffusion metrics between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure fractional anisotropy and mean diffusion coefficient in the cerebral volume.
- 3D SPGR imaging facilitated brain tissue segmentation into grey matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid.
- 20 schizophrenic patients and 24 healthy subjects participated in the study.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenic patients exhibited reduced fractional anisotropy in the splenium of the corpus callosum and adjacent occipital white matter.
- No tissue deficits were found in the areas of reduced fractional anisotropy.
- Increased mean diffusion was observed in both total white and grey matter volumes of schizophrenic patients compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the presence of global and regional white matter abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia.
- DTI is a valuable tool for detecting microstructural white matter changes in psychiatric disorders.