FRONTAL-LOBE OF CHILDREN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS - A PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Background: Schizophrenia is commonly considered a neurodevelopmental disorder. Our aim was to determine whether the proton magnetic resonan ce spectroscopic (H-1-MRS) changes seen in adults with schizophrenia a re displayed in children at risk for developing schizophrenia. Methods : Children with symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 16; mean age = 132 months) and a comparison group (n = 22; mean age 130 mo nths) took part in a H-1-MRS study of the left frontal lobe. Areas of peaks from N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cre) were determined and ratios of NAA/Cre and Cho/Cre calculated and compa red between groups. Results: The mean ratio of NAA/Cre was significant ly lower in schizophrenia-spectrum subjects than the comparison group (1.67 vs. 1.92; p < .05). Medication status did not affect results in schizophrenia-spectrum subjects. Conclusions: Our findings suggest tha t the metabolic changes associated with adult schizophrenia are observ ed in children with some or all of the symptoms of schizophrenia, supp orting a neurodevelopmental theory for schizophrenia. (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.