Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy On Frontal Lobe In The First-episode Male Schizophrenic Patients When Drug-na(?)ve And After Two Months Of Antipsychotic Treatment

BackgroundThe underlying neurobiology of emerging schizophrenia is not well understood. Clinical, neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies in schizophrenia suggest impaired frontal lobe function. Despite these findings, morphological studies have failed to show consistent structural abnormalities in the frontal lobe. This may be because traditional techniques are not sensitive enough to detect structural abnormalities. In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (~1H-MRS) is a safe and noninvasive tool that can provide information about neurotransmitter levels and neuronal integrity, in addition to measures of energy metabolism. N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant amino acid in the central nervous system and is reliably measured by ~1H-MRS. Reduced frontal NAA has been repeatedly found in chronic schizophrenia and suggests loss of neurons and/or axons, as well as neuronal or axonal dysfunction or damage. However, it is unclear whether these changes are present prior to or at the onset of the disorder, and to what extent they are specific to schizophrenia. Furthermore, the potential confounding effect of antipsychotic drugs on NAA has not been resolved. The studies of antipsychotic-na(?)ve and first-episode patients may help to elucidate these issues, but few are inclusive.