BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia differ from controls in several measures of brain structure and function, but it is uncertain how these relate to clinical features of the illness. We dichotomised patient groups by treatment response to test the hypothesis that treatment-resistant patients exhibit more marked biological abnormalities than treatment-responsive patients. METHOD: Twenty treatment-responsive and 20 treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, matched for sex, age, and illness duration, were compared by magnetic resonance imaging, single photon emission tomography, and detailed neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS: Brain-imaging variables were not statistically related to treatment response, although poorly responsive patients had lower volumes of most brain structures. Several highly significant differences emerged between patient groups on neuropsychological testing. Episodic memory functioning distinguished patient groups even after we controlled for global cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral structure and blood flow have a limited effect on treatment response in schizophrenia, but long-term episodic memory impairment is associated with, and may predict, poor prognosis.
BACKGROUND:Patients with schizophrenia differ from controls in several measures of brain structure and function, but it is uncertain how these relate to clinical features of the illness. We dichotomised patient groups by treatment response to test the hypothesis that treatment-resistant patients exhibit more marked biological abnormalities than treatment-responsive patients. METHOD: Twenty treatment-responsive and 20 treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, matched for sex, age, and illness duration, were compared by magnetic resonance imaging, single photon emission tomography, and detailed neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS: Brain-imaging variables were not statistically related to treatment response, although poorly responsive patients had lower volumes of most brain structures. Several highly significant differences emerged between patient groups on neuropsychological testing. Episodic memory functioning distinguished patient groups even after we controlled for global cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral structure and blood flow have a limited effect on treatment response in schizophrenia, but long-term episodic memory impairment is associated with, and may predict, poor prognosis.
Authors: M M Warwick; G A Doody; S M Lawrie; J N Kestelman; J J Best; E C Johnstone Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 1999-05 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: Mario Quarantelli; Olga Palladino; Anna Prinster; Vittorio Schiavone; Barbara Carotenuto; Arturo Brunetti; Angela Marsili; Margherita Casiello; Giovanni Muscettola; Marco Salvatore; Andrea de Bartolomeis Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-07-23 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Edward Millgate; Eugenia Kravariti; Alice Egerton; Oliver D Howes; Robin M Murray; Laura Kassoumeri; Jacek Donocik; Shôn Lewis; Richard Drake; Stephen Lawrie; Anna Murphy; Tracy Collier; Jane Lees; Charlotte Stockton-Powdrell; James Walters; Bill Deakin; James MacCabe Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-11-25 Impact factor: 2.692