title: Frontal white matter microstructure, aggression, and impulsivity in men with schizophrenia: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aggression and impulsivity may involve altered frontal white matter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Axial diffusion tensor images were acquired in 14 men with schizophrenia using a pulsed gradient, double spin echo, echo planar imaging method. White matter microstructural measures (fractional anisotropy and trace) were calculated from these data. Regions of interest were placed in frontal white matter on four slices. Impulsivity was measured using the Motor Impulsiveness factor of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Aggressiveness was measured using the Assaultiveness scale of the Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory and the Aggression scale of the Life History of Aggression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower fractional anisotropy in right inferior frontal white matter was associated with higher motor impulsiveness. Higher trace in these regions was associated with aggressiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inferior frontal white matter microstructure was associated with impulsivity and aggression in men with schizophrenia. These results implicate frontal lobe dysfunction in aggression and certain aspects of impulsivity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research and the Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York 10962, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hoptman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Volavka
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bilder
authors.forename: Kelvin O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D004058:Diffusion; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology