Abnormal Resting-state Functional Connectivity Within Default Mode Network In First-episode Schizophrenia

Objective: To explore resting-state functional connectivity within default mode network(DMN) in first-episode schizophrenia and observe antipsychotics effect on DMN.Method: By cross-sectional design, 17 patients with first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia(FES-acu group), 17 remission schizophrenia with antipsychotics after first-episode(FES-rem group), and 17 sex, age,eduction year matched healthy subjects(control group)underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance image(f MRI) scan. One sample t test was used to identify the DMN seed at post Posterior Cingulate cortex(PCC) and compared the functional connectivity among groups by one-way ANOVA and Post-hoc t test.Results: DMN regions include precuneus/PCC, dm PFC, vm PFC, bilateral frontal supper gyrus, bilateral temporal middle gyrus,bilateral later parital, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus. No significant difference for DMN component among 3 groups were found. Compared with control group,FES acute group had increase functional connectivity within DMN in dm PFC, decreased functional connectivity in Pre, and FES remission schizophrenia treated by second-generation antipsychotics had increased functional connectivity in Pre,decreased functional connectivity in dm PFC, compared to acute group. Increased functional connectivity between prefrontal lobe and regions of DMN in FES in acute group,compared to control group. But decreased functional connectivity was found between prefrontal lobe and regions of DMN in FES in remission group. Antipsychotics reversed prefrontal lobe functional connectivity.Conclusions Under resting state, first-episode schizophrenia had abnormal DMN functional connectivity. Dm PFC may be a hot within DMN which paly an important role in schizophrenia episode and affected by second generation antipsychotics.