Structural brain pathology in schizophrenia revisited. Prefrontal cortex pathology is inversely correlated with cerebrospinal fluid levels of homovanillic acid.

Abstract

Computed tomography scan analysis of 35 schizophrenic patients, 26 medical patients, and 31 normal controls revealed significantly larger ventricular brain ratios and structural changes consistent with cortical atrophy in both schizophrenic and medical patients in comparison with normal controls. The schizophrenic patients, however, differed from both control groups in terms of greater prefrontal cortical markings consistent with prefrontal atrophy, and this finding correlated inversely with levels of cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid. Results from this study, in addition to replicating previous findings and addressing methodologic issues concerning controls, provide new evidence implicating abnormality of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and link this abnormality to central nervous system dopaminergic function.

• Authors: A R Doran, J Boronow, D R Weinberger, O M Wolkowitz, A Breier, D Pickar
• Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (Neuropsychopharmacology) Vol. 1 Issue 1 Pg. 25-32 (Dec 1987) ISSN: 0893-133X [Print] England
• PMID: 3509912 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Homovanillic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Atrophy
• Cerebral Cortex (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Cerebral Ventricles (pathology)
• Cerebral Ventriculography
• Female
• Homovanillic Acid (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Humans
• Male
• Reference Values
• Schizophrenia (cerebrospinal fluid, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed