Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the left medial temporal and frontal lobes in chronic schizophrenia: preliminary report.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in 30 medicated schizophrenic patients and 30 normal subjects. Two groups, each containing 15 schizophrenic patients and 15 age-and sex-matched normal subjects, received MRS examinations for different volumes of interest, either the frontal lobe or the medial temporal lobe. Schizophrenic patients showed a decrease in the ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline-containing compounds (Cho) and NAA/creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr). The patients also showed an increase in the ratio of Cho/Cr in the left medial temporal lobe but not in the left frontal lobe. The age at onset of illness correlated positively with the ratios of NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr in the medial temporal lobe. No significant correlation was observed between the ratios of NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, or Cho/Cr in the left medial temporal and frontal lobes and clinical symptomatology as assessed by the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.