White Matter Differences Among Adolescents Reporting Psychotic Experiences: A Population-Based Diffusion Magnetic...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Abnormal brain connectivity is implicated in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
• White matter (WM) abnormalities are observed in schizophrenia patients and those with prodromal syndromes.
• No studies have investigated WM differences in adolescents with psychotic experiences, a vulnerable group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate white matter (WM) differences using diffusion-weighted imaging in adolescents reporting psychotic experiences.
• To compare WM integrity between adolescents with and without psychotic experiences.

Main Methods:

• A population-based case-control study of 28 adolescents (13-16 years) with psychotic experiences and 28 matched controls.
• High-angular resolution diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with whole-brain WM analysis (tract-based spatial statistics) and tractography.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with psychotic experiences exhibited WM differences bilaterally near the putamen (increased fractional anisotropy).
• Tractography revealed WM differences in the uncinate fasciculus (bilateral increased fractional anisotropy/leftward axial diffusivity).
• WM differences in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and superior longitudinal fasciculus were also identified, persisting after adjustment for other psychopathology.

Conclusions:

• Subtle structural changes in white matter (WM) microstructure were found in adolescents with psychotic experiences.
• These WM differences, particularly in regions connecting the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus, may not be a consequence of disorder.
• Findings suggest early WM microstructure alterations may index vulnerability to psychosis even in adolescence.