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Microstructural white matter alterations in psychotic disorder: a family-based diffusion tensor imaging study.
Patrick A E Domen1, Stijn Michielse, Ed Gronenschild
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. p.domen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Schizophrenia Research
|March 26, 2013
Summary
Patients with psychotic disorder show significant white matter alterations, particularly in the corpus callosum. These brain changes are linked to the illness itself, not genetic predisposition in healthy siblings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatric Disorders
- White Matter Integrity
Background:
- Evidence suggests microstructural white matter alterations in psychotic disorder patients, indicating impaired interregional connectivity.
- The role of white matter alterations in individuals at high genetic risk for psychotic disorder remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter integrity in patients with psychotic disorder, their non-psychotic siblings, and healthy controls.
- To determine if white matter alterations are present in individuals with a genetic risk for psychotic disorder.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to scan 85 patients, 93 siblings, and 80 controls.
- Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) values across the whole brain.
- Effects of medication and drug use were assessed.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited significantly lower FA in multiple white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum, external capsule, and corona radiata, compared to controls.
- Similar FA differences were observed between patients and siblings.
- No significant FA differences were found between siblings and controls.
Conclusions:
- Profound white matter alterations are present in patients with psychotic disorder, affecting key brain regions.
- These alterations are not observed in healthy siblings, suggesting they are not solely due to genetic risk.
- The findings may reflect illness pathology, environmental factors, or treatment effects rather than inherited predisposition.
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