Ls. Kegeles et al., IN-VIVO NEUROCHEMISTRY OF THE BRAIN IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AS REVEALED BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY, Biological psychiatry, 44(6), 1998, pp. 382-398
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), an application of the methods o
f nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), is a functional imaging modality t
hat provides a view of localized biochemistry in vivo. A number of stu
dies applying MRS to the neurochemistry of schizophrenia have been rep
orted, which encompass a range of patient populations, states of medic
ation, anatomic regions, nuclear species, and MRS techniques. A brief
review of the history and methodology of NMR and MRS is presented. Com
parison is made of MRS capabilities with other functional imaging moda
lities. Aspects of the neurochemistry of schizophrenia relevant to MRS
studies are reviewed as are the reported MRS studies involving patien
ts with schizophrenia. Areas of consistent findings include decreased
phosphomonoesters and increased phosphodiesters in frontal lobes, and
decreases in the putative neuronal cell marker N-acetylaspartate, in t
emporal lobes. Studies of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, gamma-a
minobutyric acid and glutamine have generated inconsistent results, Ne
w insights into alterations in neurochemistry in schizophrenia have be
en provided by MRS. Studies of neurotransmitters have future potential
with improvements in field strength and in spectral editing technique
s. MRS has the potential to measure brain medication levels and simult
aneous effects on neurochemistry. MRS mag, assist in characterizing hi
gh-risk populations, and ultimately guide medication use. (C) 1998 Soc
iety of Biological Psychiatry.