title: Neural substrate of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia: a magnetisation transfer imaging study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the neural substrate underlying quality of life (QoL) and to demonstrate the microstructural abnormalities associated with impaired QoL in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia, using magnetisation transfer imaging. A total of 81 right-handed men with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 25 age- and sex-similar healthy controls were included and underwent a 3T MRI with magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) to detect microstructural abnormalities. Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia had grey matter (GM) decreased MTR values in the temporal lobe (BA21, BA37 and BA38), the bilateral insula, the occipital lobe (BA17, BA18 and BA19) and the cerebellum. Patients with impaired QoL had lower GM MTR values relative to patients with preserved QoL in the bilateral temporal pole (BA38), the bilateral insula, the secondary visual cortex (BA18), the vermis and the cerebellum. Significant correlations between MTR values and QoL scores (p < 0.005) were observed in the GM of patients in the right temporal pole (BA38), the bilateral insula, the vermis and the right cerebellum. Our study shows that QoL impairment in patients with schizophrenia is related to the microstructural changes in an extensive network, suggesting that QoL is a bio-psychosocial marker.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faget-Agius
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279, Public Health: Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France.|Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, 13009 Marseille, France.|Department of Public Health, Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.|Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Faget-Agius
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Catherine
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279, Public Health: Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France.|Department of Public Health, Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wirsich
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Wirsich
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jonathan
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ranjeva
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Ranjeva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jean-Philippe
authors.forename: Raphaelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richieri
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279, Public Health: Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France.|Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, 13009 Marseille, France.|Department of Public Health, Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Richieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raphaelle
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soulier
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Soulier
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elisabeth
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Confort-Gouny
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Confort-Gouny
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sylviane
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279, Public Health: Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France.|Department of Public Health, Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Auquier
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascal
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guye
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) UMR CNRS 7339, Medical School of Marseille, France.|Centre d'Exploration Métabolique par Résonance Magnétique (CEMEREM), Medical Imaging Department, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Guye
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maxime
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279, Public Health: Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France.|Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, 13009 Marseille, France.|Department of Public Health, Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lançon
authors.forename: Lançon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christophe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure