BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that basal ganglia volumes of first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophrenia are smaller than those of normal control subjects. Subsequent exposure to neuroleptic medication appears to induce volumetric change. Possible reasons for this include differences in blood flow and metabolism between the neuroleptic-naïve and medicated states. METHODS: We used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure blood flow to the caudate and putamen, in a sample of 29 neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophreniform disorders and 29 matched control subjects. We also studied a subset of the patient sample (n = 13), comparing their "before" versus "on" medication PET scans. RESULTS: We did not find a significant difference in blood flow to the caudate and putamen between neuroleptic-naïve patients and control subjects even after controlling for whole brain blood flow; however, in the subset of 13 patients compared in the "on" versus "off" medication states, there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow to both the caudate and putamen. CONCLUSIONS: Before treatment, there appears to be no difference in striatal blood flow between first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients and healthy volunteers, but there appears to be a significant increase in blood flow to the striatum after the treatment is initiated.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that basal ganglia volumes of first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophrenia are smaller than those of normal control subjects. Subsequent exposure to neuroleptic medication appears to induce volumetric change. Possible reasons for this include differences in blood flow and metabolism between the neuroleptic-naïve and medicated states. METHODS: We used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure blood flow to the caudate and putamen, in a sample of 29 neuroleptic-naïve patients with schizophreniform disorders and 29 matched control subjects. We also studied a subset of the patient sample (n = 13), comparing their "before" versus "on" medication PET scans. RESULTS: We did not find a significant difference in blood flow to the caudate and putamen between neuroleptic-naïve patients and control subjects even after controlling for whole brain blood flow; however, in the subset of 13 patients compared in the "on" versus "off" medication states, there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow to both the caudate and putamen. CONCLUSIONS: Before treatment, there appears to be no difference in striatal blood flow between first-episode neuroleptic-naïve patients and healthy volunteers, but there appears to be a significant increase in blood flow to the striatum after the treatment is initiated.
Authors: Matthew J Hoptman; Jan Volavka; Pál Czobor; Guido Gerig; Miranda Chakos; Joseph Blocher; Leslie L Citrome; Brain Sheitman; Jean-Pierre Lindenmayer; Jeffrey A Lieberman; Robert M Bilder Journal: J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2006 Impact factor: 2.198
Authors: Daniel Paul Eisenberg; Lisa Yankowitz; Angela M Ianni; Dani Y Rubinstein; Philip D Kohn; Catherine E Hegarty; Michael D Gregory; José A Apud; Karen F Berman Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2017-04-07 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Linda Chang; Joseph Friedman; Thomas Ernst; Kai Zhong; Nicholas D Tsopelas; Kenneth Davis Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2007-08-13 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Sarah K Keedy; Cherise Rosen; Tin Khine; Rajaprabhakaran Rajarethinam; Philip G Janicak; John A Sweeney Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2009-02-24 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Diego Centonze; Alessandro Usiello; Cinzia Costa; Barbara Picconi; Eric Erbs; Giorgio Bernardi; Emiliana Borrelli; Paolo Calabresi Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2004-09-22 Impact factor: 6.167