A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON 3 SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS WITH MIDLINE STRUCTURAL DEFECTS

Background The relationship between midline structural defects and sch izophrenia remains unclear, although a number of neuroradiological stu dies have reported an association between schizophrenia and a range of anomalies. Method Three patients are reported, each diagnosed with sc hizophrenia and neuroradiological evidence of midline structural anoma lies. MRI scans are reported in conjunction with performance over a ra nge oi neuropsychological tests designed to assess frontal and lateral ised cognitive functions. Results Evidence of anterior dysfunction was present in all three cases, while on an individual basis patients dis played varying patterns of preserved and dysfunctional cognitive proce ssing. Conclusion The reported findings raise a number of interesting issues regarding the nature of hemispheric involvement in schizophreni a.