The Effect of Risperidone on Metabolite Measures in the Frontal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, and Thalamus in Schizophrenic Patients. A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H MRS) Study

A. Szulc; B. Galinska; E. Tarasow; W. Dzienis; B. Kubas; B. Konarzewska; J. Walecki; A. S. Alathiaki; A. Czernikiewicz

doi:10.1055/s-2005-873156

Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38(5): 214-219
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-873156

Original Paper

The Effect of Risperidone on Metabolite Measures in the Frontal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, and Thalamus in Schizophrenic Patients. A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H MRS) Study

A. Szulc¹ , B. Galinska¹ , E. Tarasow² , W. Dzienis² , B. Kubas² , B. Konarzewska¹ , J. Walecki³ , A. S. Alathiaki² , A. Czernikiewicz¹

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

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was the evaluation of risperidone effect on metabolite measures in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe and thalamus in schizophrenic patients on the basis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS). Methods: A group of 14 patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to DSM-IV, were examined in the study. The patients were examined twice, once after a period of at least 7 days without neuroleptics and for the second time at least 4 weeks after stable risperidone doses. Results: The significant differences in the metabolite levels before and after the treatment were observed only in thalamus: an increase in myoinositol (mI) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels. Positive symptoms before the treatment correlated positively with NAA level in the frontal lobes and negatively in the temporal lobes. Negative symptoms before the treatment correlated positively with Glx (a common signal for GABA, glutamine and glutamate) level in the temporal lobes. Conclusion: Our results seem to confirm the influence of risperidone on the brain metabolism, specifically in the region of thalamus.

Full Text

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Dr. Agata Szulc

Department of Psychiatry

Medical University in Bialystok

16-070 Choroszcz, Pl. Brodowicza 1

Poland

Phone: +48 85 7193979

Fax: +48 85 7193978

Email: agataszulc@poczta.onet.pl