title: Functional neuroimaging in schizophrenia: diagnosis and drug discovery.
abstract: Functional neuroimaging provides a direct way of investigating the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in vivo. The function of neurotransmitters implicated in schizophrenia, such as dopamine and glutamate, can be assessed using molecular imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission tomography (SPET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Regional brain activity, particularly that associated with the cognitive processes and symptoms associated with the disorder, can be studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Here, we focus on the potential for the use of these techniques in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and in the development of new drugs for its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Sections of Neuroimaging, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, De Crespigny Park 16, London, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Oliver D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fusar-Poli
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents