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Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Structural brain changes associated with tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia
Salvador Sarró1, Edith Pomarol-Clotet, Erick J Canales-Rodríguez
1FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries, C./Dr Antoni Pujadas 38, 08830 - Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia is linked to structural brain changes, specifically reduced grey matter volume in the basal ganglia and thalamus. These findings suggest a neurobiological basis beyond just neurochemical alterations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- The underlying pathology of tardive dyskinesia (TD) remains unclear.
- Clinical signs suggest basal ganglia involvement, but prior imaging studies lacked definitive evidence of structural changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate grey matter volume differences in individuals with schizophrenia and TD versus those without TD.
- Utilizing voxel-based structural imaging to identify specific brain regions affected.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine 81 individuals with chronic schizophrenia (32 with TD, 49 without).
- Optimized voxel-based morphometry was applied to whole-brain data.
- A control group of 61 healthy individuals was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Patients with TD exhibited reduced grey matter volume in subcortical areas, notably the basal ganglia and thalamus.
- Specific basal ganglia regions affected included the caudate nucleus and putamen.
- Individuals with TD showed significant basal ganglia volume reduction compared to healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- The development of tardive dyskinesia involves alterations in brain structure, not solely neurochemical factors.
- Structural neuroimaging provides evidence for a neurobiological basis of TD in schizophrenia.
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