title: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures related to short-term symptomatic outcome in chronic schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) enables the evaluation of in vivo brain function. The purpose of the study was to compare ¹H MRS measurements in schizophrenic patients, who were clinical responders after short-term antipsychotic treatment, with non-responders and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated a group of 47 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients were examined twice--once after a period of at least 7 days without neuroleptics and the second time at least 4 weeks after therapy with stable doses of medication. The follow-up was available in 42 patients. Baseline MRS measurements of clinical responders were compared with non-responders and the group of healthy controls (N=26). We assessed the following metabolite ratios: NAA (N-acetylaspartate), Glx (complex of GABA, glutamine and glutamate), Cho (choline) and mI (myo-inositol) to creatinine (Cr) in the left frontal and temporal lobes and the thalamus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responders showed a significantly lower baseline frontal Glx/Cr level than non-responders. Both groups had a significantly lower NAA/Cr ratio in the frontal lobe than the controls, but only non-responders had a significantly lower NAA/Cr ratio in the thalamus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the relationship between the glutamatergic system and pathophysiology of schizophrenia and suggest a significant value of ¹H MRS examination in the assessment of the future treatment effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. agataszulc@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szulc
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Konarzewska
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galinska-Skok
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lazarczyk
authors.forename: Napoleon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Waszkiewicz
authors.forename: Eugeniusz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarasow
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milewski
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walecki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011522:Protons; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011522:Protons