Voxel based morphometric analysis of diffusion tensor data of schizophrenic patients

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate and localize thefractional anisotropy differences between schizophrenic and control groups.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen schizophrenic patients and acontrol group of five subjects underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonanceimaging. Data was processed on a statistical parametric mapping program, usingvoxel based morphometry. Analysis were made both between groups and for eachpatient.RESULTS: In globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, posterior limb of internelcapsule bilaterally and in the genu of right corpus callosum, FA values weresignificantly reduced in the schizophrenia group. When each patient was analysedseperately, three had widespread reduction of FA values. One patient showeddecreased FA values in the right cerebral peduncle, and another patient in theparahippocampal gyri. Six patients showed no significant differences whencompared with the control group.CONCLUSION: Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging can provideinformation about the pathology of neural circuity. Voxel based morphometry is afast and reliable method to compare the DTI data and localize the pathology.