Reduced volume of parietal and frontal association areas in patients with schizophrenia characterized by passivity delusions.
BACKGROUND
In patients with schizophrenia, passivity delusions are characterized by a difficulty in determining the agency of purposive actions. Neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging data suggest that passivity delusions are associated with dysfunction of the parietal lobe association cortex.


METHODS
Cortical volume calculated from magnetic resonance imaging data in a group of 12 patients with schizophrenia characterized by motor passivity delusions was compared statistically with the cortical volume of 11 patients without passivity delusions.


RESULTS
Reduced cortical volume was observed in parietal and frontal association cortices in the passivity group.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide direct evidence for the involvement of the parietal lobe in the pathophysiology of passivity delusions in schizophrenia.
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Sunshine Hospital, St Albans, Melbourne, Australia.
P
P
Maruff
S J
SJ
Wood
D
D
Velakoulis
D J
DJ
Smith
B
B
Soulsby
J
J
Suckling
E T
ET
Bullmore
C
C
Pantelis
D000328:Adult; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index