title: White matter integrity and symptom dimensions of schizophrenia: A diffusion tensor imaging study.
abstract: Impaired fiber bundle connectivity between brain regions is a key neuropathological finding in schizophrenia. Symptom dimensions in schizophrenia can be clustered into factor models. Single syndromes have been related to grey and white matter brain structure alterations. We associated all core syndromes of schizophrenia in a single patient group with changes in white matter integrity. Diffusion weighted images (3T MRI) and SAPS/SANS scores were measured in 26 male patients and 26 healthy controls. First, group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated with TBSS. Second, core symptom dimensions of schizophrenia were correlated with FA within these altered tracts. We found differences between groups in nine white matter tracts. Hallucinations were positively correlated with FA in the left uncinate fasciculus and left corticospinal tract. Ego-disturbances (passivity phenomena) showed a positive correlation with FA in the right anterior thalamic radiation. Positive formal thought disorders (FTD) corresponded negatively with FA in the right cingulum bundle. Negative symptoms were positively associated with the right anterior thalamic radiation and negatively with the right ventral cingulum bundle. For the first time, we analyzed the whole range of psychopathological factors in one schizophrenia patient group. We could validate our novel results for positive FTD and passivity phenomena by replicating findings for hallucinations and negative symptoms. Only those brain circuits which are most vulnerable at a given time during neurodevelopment are affected by a particular pathological impact (genetic, environmental). This scenario could explain the predominance of particular psychopathological syndromes related to specific white matter anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 65691 Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: bauermi@med.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Miriam H A
authors.initials: MHA
authors.lastname: Bopp
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zöllner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany; Core Facility Brain Imaging, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dietsche
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilo T J
authors.initials: TTJ
authors.lastname: Kircher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: DTI; Disconnectivity; Disorganization; Ego-disturbance; Hallucination; Negative symptoms