In Vivo 31P-1H
MRSI/MRI of Chronic Schizophrenia
This study will evaluate the hypothesis that
schizophrenia may be divided into two major syndromes, based on
differences in clinical status, course, neurobiological and molecular
correlates. We will use clinical and cognitive assessments along with
31P-1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
(MRSI) to evaluate two groups of chronic schizophrenics, each made up of
20 individuals, and 40 matched controls. One group of schizophrenics
will include cognitively impaired individuals, and the other will be
made up of subjects who are cognitively normal. We hypothesize that
schizophrenia subjects with normal cognitive status (or mild cognitive
impairment) will have normal (or nearly normal) 31P-1H
MRSI findings. The study will contribute to an understanding of the
neurobiological underpinnings of two major syndromes of the disease.
