Functional magnetic resonance imaging and schizophrenia: Medication effects, methodological limitations and perspectives

Schizophrenia has been linked to structural and functional abnormalities in the prefronto-temporolimbic network. The purpose of this study was to inve stigate these regions biologically. A simple fMRI input paradigm was applie d to 24 schizophrenic patients in a remitted, stable condition and matched controls. The functional measurements showed a significant prefrontal and t halamic hypofunction in all schizophrenic patients in comparison to control s (p < 0.05). This finding was significantly pronounced in patients treated with typical neuroleptics in comparison to atypical antipsychotics. in add ition, using MR-spectroscopic imaging there was a significant reduction in NAA in the same patients treated with typical neuroleptics in comparison to the atypically treated ones and controls, it is concluded that the functio nal and biochemical activation patterns con be more favorably modulated by atypical antipsychotic drug treatment. Our data demonstrate that fMRI repre sents a novel and promising methodological approach to characterize the bio logical phenotypes of schizophrenia and to monitor psychopharmacological tr eatment. limitations of the present method and future perspectives e.g. eve nt-related fMRI and biological multimodal approaches ore discussed.