Hypofrontality -- a risk-marker related to schizophrenia?
In order to better understand whether cortical hypoactivation and hypofrontality is a possible risk marker for schizophrenia, we investigated resting EEG activity in 39 unmedicated schizophrenics and 21 persons with schizotypal personality. Compared to a normal control group, we found an increased, frontally pronounced delta activity in schizophrenic patients, a result that is in accordance with other studies. Subjects with schizotypal personality, who are believed to have an increased risk for schizophrenia, did not show an increase of delta activity. From this result, we concluded that cortical hypoactivation and hypofrontality -- defined as an increase of frontally pronounced delta activity during resting EEG -- cannot be interpreted as a risk factor for schizophrenia. However, since it is controversial whether subjects with schizotypal personality are at increased risk for schizophrenia, further studies in unaffected family members of schizophrenic patients are needed.
Wuebben
Y
Y
Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Berlin, Eschenallee 3, 14050 Berlin, Germany. yvon@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Winterer
G
G
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers