(31)Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in schizophrenia research. On the pathophysiology of the cerebral high energy phosphate and membrane phospholipid metabolism

(31)Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-31-MRS) has gaine d much interest in schizophrenia research in the last years, since it allow s noninvasive measurement of high energy phosphates and phospholipids of th e human brain in vivo. Thus, several studies have reported cerebral metabol ic differences between patients and healthy controls as well as on laterali zation effects and influences of epidemiological and psychopathological fac tors. This review gives a survey of the potential of (31)p-MRS in schizophr enia research and summarizes and comments on the results of preceding studi es. The discussion covers the reduction of phospholipids in patients in the context of the membrane phospholipid hypotheses, the question of an energe tic hypometabolism in schizophrenics, and the influence of neuroleptic medi cation.