CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY IN ACUTE SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS - A TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY STUDY

Background and Purpose-The aim of this study was to determine whether acutely psychotic first-episode schizophrenics show an increased cereb ral blood flow velocity and whether this condition is reversible on ps ychopathological improvement Methods-In the first of two examinations, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and assessment with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were performed on 28 acutely psyc hotic, neuroleptically naive, first-episode schizophrenics. In the sec ond examination, the same patients were assessed psychometrically (PAN SS) as well as with Doppler ultrasonography after psychopathological i mprovement. Results-Acutely psychotic first-episode schizophrenics sho wed a significant increase of the mean velocity on both sides in the m iddle and anterior cerebral arteries and in the right posterior cerebr al artery. Blood flow showed significant correlations with productive psychotic symptoms. After psychopathological improvement there was a b ilateral normalization of the mean velocity in the middle, anterior, a nd posterior cerebral arteries. Conclusions-Acutely psychotic first-ep isode schizophrenics show a significantly increased bilateral cerebral blood flow velocity, which normalizes on psychopathological improveme nt. There were significant correlations of cerebral blood flow velocit y with psychopathology.