Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Brain Metabolite Changes after Antipsychotic Treatment

A. Szulc; B. Galinska; E. Tarasow; N. Waszkiewicz; B. Konarzewska; R. Poplawska; D. Bibulowicz; K. Simonienko; J. Walecki

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1279739

Pharmacopsychiatry 2011; 44(4): 148-157
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1279739

Original Paper

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Brain Metabolite Changes after Antipsychotic Treatment

A. Szulc¹ , B. Galinska¹ , E. Tarasow² , N. Waszkiewicz¹ , B. Konarzewska¹ , R. Poplawska¹ , D. Bibulowicz¹ , K. Simonienko¹ , J. Walecki³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, Choroszcz, Poland
²Department of Radiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
³Polish Academy of Sciences, Medical Research Centre, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Introduction: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) enables the observation of brain function in vivo. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of antipsychotic medication on metabolite levels in the brain of schizophrenic patients based on a ¹H MRS examination.

Methods: We examined 42 patients previously diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia twice: firstly, after the neuroleptic wash-out (baseline) and secondly, under stable medication (follow-up, after treatment). The study had a naturalistic design and several different neuroleptic medications were used during the treatment phase. The clinical evaluation, MRI and MRS procedures were performed. The group of 26 healthy controls were also examined to compare MRS results.

Results: We found a significantly lower NAA/Cr (N-acetylaspartate/creatine) ratio in the frontal lobe and thalamus in patients (after the wash-out) as compared to controls. After treatment a significant decrease of the Glx/Cr ratio in the temporal lobe and a trend for an increase of the NAA/Cr ratio in the thalamus were observed.

Conclusion: >Our results confirm that antipsychotic medication modifies brain metabolism measured by means of ¹H MRS. The pattern of the changes suggests a neuroprotective action of antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia.

Key words

schizophrenia - antipsychotic treatment - proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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Correspondence

Dr. A. Szulc

Department of Psychiatry

Medical University in Bialystok

16-070 Choroszcz

Poland

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Fax: +48/85/719 39 77

eMail: agataszulc@poczta.onet.pl

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