Parieto-prefrontal dysfunction during visuo-auditory information processing in elderly, chronic schizophrenic patients and medication effects

Authors

  • Andrea Schmitt Central Institute of Mental Health
  • Sylvia Otto Central Institute of Mental Health
  • Alexander Jatzko Central Institute of Mental Health
  • Matthias Ruf Central Institute of Mental Health
  • Traute Demirakca Central Institute of Mental Health
  • HeiKe Tost Central Institute of Mental Health
  • Oliver Gruber University of Goettingen; Department of Psychiatry
  • Eleni Parlapani University of Goettingen; Department of Psychiatry
  • Peter Falkai University of Goettingen; Department of Psychiatry
  • Dieter F. Braus HSK Dr. Horst Schmidt Clinic; Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000300002

Keywords:

fMRI, schizophrenia, visual, acoustic, antipsychotic medication

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In first-episode schizophrenia patients, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown prefronto-parietal dysfunction during acoustic and visual stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the prefronto-parietal network in elderly schizophrenia patients using the same paradigm. Additionally, we hypothesized favourable effects on brain activation by the atypical antipsychotic clozapine compared to typical neuroleptics. METHODS: We investigated 18 elderly, chronic schizophrenia patients and 21 elderly healthy controls. Nine schizophrenia patients had been medicated with clozapine and 9 had been receiving typical neuroleptics over decades. In addition to assessments with psychopathological and neuropsychological rating scales we used an acoustic and visual stimulation paradigm in a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner to investigate BOLD-response in different brain areas. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls schizophrenia patients showed decreased brain activation in the prefrontal and parietal cortex as well as medial anterior cingulate gyrus compared to healthy controls. In these regions, patients medicated with clozapine showed increased BOLD-response compared to patients treated with typical neuroleptics. DISCUSSION: Our study confirmed prefronto-parietal network disturbances in elderly schizophrenia patients thus pointing to the preservation of brain activation deficits and the influence of neurodevelopmental disturbances in chronic schizophrenia until old-age. CONCLUSION: The atypical antipsychotic clozapine seems to facilitate brain activation even in elderly, chronic schizophrenia patients.

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Published

2009-01-01

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 3 (2009)

Section

Original Articles

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Parieto-prefrontal dysfunction during visuo-auditory information processing in elderly, chronic schizophrenic patients and medication effects . (2009). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 36(3), 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000300002