title: White matter correlates of the disorganized speech dimension in schizophrenia.
abstract: Disorganized speech is related to functional abnormalities in schizophrenia. To test the association between formal thought disorders (FTDs) and white matter microstructure, we applied a behavioral rating and diffusion tensor imaging in 61 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Bern Psychopathology Scale was used to rate the dimension of language abnormalities ranging from negative FTDs, basically unaltered speech, to positive FTDs. Tract-based spatial statistics indicated increased fractional anisotropy in left hemispheric pathways of the language system in patients with negative FTDs. Thus, altered white matter properties in relevant fiber tracts may represent vulnerability to specific formal thought disorders.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland. petra.viher@puk.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Petra V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Viher
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stegmayer
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giezendanner
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federspiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.|Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Lucerne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohlhalter
authors.affiliation: Support Center of Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strik
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Bern Psychopathology Scale; Diffusion tensor imaging; Formal thought disorders; Language system; Tract-based spatial statistics