Changes in regional cerebral blood flow due to cognitive activation among patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) response to the Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST) has been used to assess the functional integrity of the prefrontal cortex in patients with schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had made few or many perseverative errors on a modified version of the WCST. A control group consisted of normal volunteers. The groups were then compared with respect to rCBF response to WCST activation.


METHODS
rCBF was measured during administration of a modified version of the WCST and during a card sorting control task, using single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT).


RESULTS
Performance of the modified WCST was associated with a widespread and substantial increase in rCBF, particularly in the frontal region. The poorly performing group of patients with schizophrenia showed only a modest increase in rCBF in the left anterior cingulate region.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects with schizophrenia are able to respond to specific neuropsychological challenge with activation of the frontal regions.
Toone
B K
BK
Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London.
Okocha
C I
CI
Sivakumar
K
K
Syed
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis