Hypofrontality in men with first-episode psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Decreased metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive activation is a recurrent finding and a likely functional marker of schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occurrence of hypofrontality in patients with first-episode psychosis, with or without evolution to schizophrenia.


METHODS
We used fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography during the performance of an attention task and magnetic resonance imaging to study the dorsolateral prefrontal region in 13 men with a first episode of psychosis. Data from patients who progressed to schizophrenia were compared with those of patients who did not meet criteria for this diagnosis after 2 years.


RESULTS
Patients who developed schizophrenia demonstrated a significant hypofrontality in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in comparison with the non-schizophrenia and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that hypofrontality could be a marker of schizophrenia at the time of the first psychotic episode, in agreement with neurodevelopmental theories of schizophrenia.
Molina
V
V
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007b Salamanca, Spain. vmolina@usal.es
Sanz
J
J
Reig
S
S
Martínez
R
R
Sarramea
F
F
Luque
R
R
Benito
C
C
Gispert
J D
JD
Pascau
J
J
Desco
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18