The effects of neuroleptic medications on basal ganglia blood flow in schizophreniform disorders: a comparison between the neuroleptic-naïve and medicated states.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies indicate that basal ganglia volumes of first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophrenia are smaller than those of normal control subjects. Subsequent exposure to neuroleptic medication appears to induce volumetric change. Possible reasons for this include differences in blood flow and metabolism between the neuroleptic-naïve and medicated states.


METHODS
We used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure blood flow to the caudate and putamen, in a sample of 29 neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophreniform disorders and 29 matched control subjects. We also studied a subset of the patient sample (n = 13), comparing their "before" versus "on" medication PET scans.


RESULTS
We did not find a significant difference in blood flow to the caudate and putamen between neuroleptic-naïve patients and control subjects even after controlling for whole brain blood flow; however, in the subset of 13 patients compared in the "on" versus "off" medication states, there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow to both the caudate and putamen.


CONCLUSIONS
Before treatment, there appears to be no difference in striatal blood flow between first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients and healthy volunteers, but there appears to be a significant increase in blood flow to the striatum after the treatment is initiated.
Corson
Patricia Westmoreland
PW
Mental Health Clinical Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
O'Leary
Daniel S
DS
Miller
Del D
DD
Andreasen
Nancy C
NC
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011699:Putamen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone