Regional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in schizophrenia and exploration of drug effect

Schizophrenia is a disorder with an unclear pathophysiology, despite numerous attempts to elucidate its etiology. We have employed proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo to explore the neurochemistry of several brain regions (left frontal and temporal cortices, left basal ganglia, and left and right thalamus) in patients with schizophrenia and in normal control subjects. We have also examined patients in different medication states. A trend toward a decreased level of inositol/creatine was found in the left temporal lobe of patients with schizophrenia, as was a trend toward a reduced level of N-acetylaspartate/creatine in the left thalamus of patients. In schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, decreased levels of choline were found in the left basal ganglia, while increased levels of N-acetylaspartate were found in the left frontal cortex. These results suggest altered metabolism in patients with schizophrenia, and imply that further study is needed to clarify the effects of the more recently available antipsychotics. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.