Frontal lobe of children with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic study.
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia is commonly considered a neurodevelopmental disorder. Our aim was to determine whether the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic (1H-MRS) changes seen in adults with schizophrenia are displayed in children at risk for developing schizophrenia.


METHODS
Children with symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 16; mean age = 132 months) and a comparison group (n = 12; mean age 130 months) took part in a 1H-MRS study of the left frontal lobe. Areas of peaks from N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cre) were determined and ratios of NAA/Cre and Cho/Cre calculated and compared between groups.


RESULTS
The mean ratio of NAA/Cre was significantly lower in schizophrenia-spectrum subjects than the comparison group (1.67 vs. 1.92; p < .05). Medication status did not affect results in schizophrenia-spectrum subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the metabolic changes associated with adult schizophrenia are observed in children with some or all of the symptoms of schizophrenia, supporting a neurodevelopmental theory for schizophrenia.
Brooks
W M
WM
Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131-5021, USA.
Hodde-Vargas
J
J
Vargas
L A
LA
Yeo
R A
RA
Ford
C C
CC
Hendren
R L
RL
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents