A Structural MRI Study Of Aggressive Behaviors In Schizophrenic Patients

Objective: To analyze the possible relationship between cerebral gray matter volume and structure and the violent behavior as well as Cognitive impairment of the first episode of untreated schizophrenia in patients with aggressive violence by means of voxel-based morphometry(VBM).Methods: Twenty-four cases of untreated schizophrenic patients and 24 normal control subjects matched with sex,age and educational level were selected.The general questionnaire was collected from the two groups.Digital sign test and digital span test in WAIS-RC;Word fluency test(VF)scale results,using the revised explicit Attack Behavior Inventory(MOAS).Buss and Perry Attack Questionnaire Chinese version(B & P)were used to evaluate schizophrenia patients.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was performed on both groups using 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging equipment.VBM was used to analyze the gray matter volume Data analysis and processing.Results:(1)Compared with the normal control group,the gray matter volume changes of the patients in the brain area are: left suboccipital back,bilateral suprachiasmatic,bilateral wedge anterior lobe,left cingulate gyrus,right anterior cingulate gyrus,right Bilateral medial frontal gyrus,bilateral supraventricular zone,bilateral fusiform gyrus,cerebellum,left inferior temporal gyrus,right orbital frontal gyrus,left superior temporal gyrus,bilateral island leaves,Right occipital gyrus,bilateral orbital frontal gyrus,bilateral straight back,P <0.05,corrected).(2)This study found that gray matter volume in the brain regions of the first episode of schizophrenia was associated with the level of aggressive violence and cognitive impairment.There was a negative correlation between the volume of gray matter in the left middle cingulate gyrus,left posterior cingulate gyrus,bilateral prefrontal lobe,and bilateral motor locomotor in the patient group(P <0.05),and the revised version of the Explicit Attack Scale(MOAS)Corrected);The volume of gray matter in left anterior cingulate gyrus of patients with schizophrenia was positively correlated with the scores of WAIS-RC.(3)The volume of gray matter in the patient group and the digital span test in WAIS-RC were not found.Word fluency test(VF),and the Buss and Perry Attack Questionnaire(B & P)scores were correlated;Conclusion:(1)In the patients with schizophrenia,those with attacking violence and cognitive impairment had gray matter volume abnormality in some brain regions,and the volume of gray matter in the cingulate gyrus,frontal lobe,temporal lobe and orbital frontal lobe were decreased.(2)The changes of cerebral gray matter structure may be related to the pathologic potential neurological mechanism of schizophrenia attacking violence and cognition impairment.