IN-VIVO NEUROCHEMISTRY OF THE BRAIN IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AS REVEALED BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY

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.