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Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
White matter alterations and the conversion to psychosis: A combined diffusion tensor imaging and glutamate 1H MRS
Pablo León-Ortiz1, Francisco Reyes-Madrigal2, Peter Kochunov3
1Laboratory of Experimental Psychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Education, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico.
Introduction:
Widespread white matter abnormalities and alterations in glutamate levels have been reported in patients with schizophrenia. We hypothesized that alterations in white matter integrity and glutamate levels in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis are associated with the subsequent development of psychosis.
Methods:
Participants included 33 antipsychotic naïve CHR (Female 7/Male 26, Age 19.55 (4.14) years) and 38 healthy controls (Female 10/Male 28, Age 20.92 (3.37) years). Whole brain diffusion tensor imaging for fractional anisotropy (FA) and right frontal white matter proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for glutamate levels were acquired. CHR participants were clinically followed for 2 years to determine conversion to psychosis.
Results:
CHR participants that transitioned to psychosis (N = 7, 21%) were characterized by significantly lower FA values in the posterior thalamic radiation compared to those who did not transition and healthy controls. In the CHR group that transitioned to psychosis only, positive exploratory correlations between glutamate levels and FA values of the posterior thalamic radiation and the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule and a negative correlation between glutamate levels and the cingulum FA values were found.
Conclusion:
The results of the present study highlight that alterations in white matter structure and glutamate are related with the conversion to psychosis.
