Gray matter abnormalities in paranoid schizophrenia and their clinical correlations.
Numerous imaging studies have shown structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. Recently, voxel-based morphometry enabled whole brain analysis beyond the regions of interest (ROI). Regional gray matter concentrations of magnetic resonance (MR) images from 35 patients with paranoid schizophrenia were compared with those from 35 age- and sex-matched controls, and their clinical correlations were explored using voxel-based morphometry. Gray matter concentrations in the patients were significantly reduced in the left insular and dorsolateral prefrontal regions, and bilaterally in the medial frontal, anterior cingulate, inferior frontal and superior temporal regions. On the other hand, gray matter concentrations in the bilateral cerebellum and right striatum were significantly increased in the patients compared with controls. A negative correlation between the score for the severity of 'lack of insight and judgment' and gray matter concentrations in the left posterior and right anterior cingulate and bilateral inferior temporal regions including the lateral fusiform gyri was found. These results suggest the important roles of the paralimbic structures in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the involvement of the perceptual and monitoring systems in the mechanism of insight.
Ha
Tae Hyon
TH
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Youn
Tak
T
Ha
Kyoo Seob
KS
Rho
Kyu Sik
KS
Lee
Jong Min
JM
Kim
In Young
IY
Kim
Sun I
SI
Kwon
Jun Soo
JS
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors