Inferior frontal white matter anisotropy and negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was test the hypothesis that abnormalities of inferior frontal white matter are related to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. METHOD Fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts in the prefrontal area of 10 schizophrenic patients was determined by diffusion tensor imaging. Patients were also assessed for severity of negative symptoms by using the Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). RESULTS Inferior frontal white matter fractional anisotropy was significantly inversely correlated with the SANS global ratings of negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These data, while preliminary, suggest that impaired white matter integrity in the inferior frontal region may be associated with the severity of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

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