Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the frontal lobe in schizophrenics: a critical review of the methodology.
Schizophrenic patients undergoing proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy show alterations in N-acetyl aspartate levels in several brain regions, indicating neuronal dysfunction. The present review focuses on the main proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in the frontal lobe of schizophrenics. A MEDLINE search, from 1991 to March 2004, was carried out using the key-words spectroscopy and schizophrenia and proton and frontal. In addition, articles cited in the reference list of the studies obtained through MEDLINE were included. As a result, 27 articles were selected. The results were inconsistent, 19 papers reporting changes in the N-acetyl aspartate levels, while 8 reported no change. Methodological analysis led to the conclusion that the discrepancy may be due the following factors: (i) number of participants; (ii) variation in the clinical and demographic characteristics of the groups; (iii) little standardization of the acquisition parameters of spectroscopy. Overall, studies that fulfill strict methodological criteria show N-acetyl aspartate decrease in the frontal lobe of male schizophrenics.
Department of Neuropsychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. rfsanches@uol.com.br
Rafael Faria
RF
Sanches
José Alexandre de Souza
JA
Crippa
Jaime Eduardo Cecílio
JE
Hallak
David
D
Araújo
Antonio Waldo
AW
Zuardi
D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011522:Protons; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate