Neurostructural Changes in Schizophrenia and Treatment-resistance: a Narrative Review

Overview

Journal Psychoradiology

Publisher Oxford University Press

Date 2024 Oct 14

PMID 39399446

Authors

Tanya Paul

Jia Whei See

Vetrivel Vijayakumar

Temiloluwa Njideaka-Kevin

Hanyou Loh

Vivian Jia Qi Lee

Bekir Nihat Dogrul

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder characterized by multiple neurochemical abnormalities and structural changes in the brain. These abnormalities may begin before recognizable clinical symptoms appear and continue as a dynamic process throughout the illness. Recent advances in imaging techniques have significantly enriched our comprehension of these structural alterations, particularly focusing on gray and white matter irregularities and prefrontal, temporal, and cingulate cortex alterations. Some of the changes suggest treatment resistance to antipsychotic medications, while treatment nonadherence and relapses may further exacerbate structural abnormalities. This narrative review aims to discuss the literature about alterations and deficits within the brain, which could improve the understanding of schizophrenia and how to interpret neurostructural changes.

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