CORRELATION OF REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW WITH PERFORMANCE ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was determined by the 133Xe inhalation technique (Headtone II: ring detection SPECT) in 53 DSM-III schizophrenic patients. The rCBF values were corrected by using end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration values (PECO2). After rCBF measurement, neuropsychological tests-Word Fluency Test, Maze Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-were performed. There were significant correlations between frontal rCBF and scores on each neuropsychological test. In particular, a moderate correlation between the frontal rCBF and the performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was noted. It seems likely that decrease of rCBF in prefrontal regions at rest reflects a disturbance of frontal lobe function in schizophrenic patients. © 1990.