Effects of Age, Neuropsychological Impairment, and Medication on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Schizophrenia and Major Affective Disorder

Authors

Perry C. Goldstein
Gregory G. Brown
Andrew Marcus
James R. EwingFollow

Abstract

Reports of abnormalities of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with schizophrenia and major affective disorder are contradictory. To gain a better understanding of the possible sources of these contradictions, the rCBF and neuropsychological functioning of 15 schizophrenics, 15 patients with major affective disorder, and 15 age-matched controls were studied. No group differences in overall rCBF, percent frontal devialion in flow, or rCBF asymmetries were observed. Both overall rCBF and percent frontal deviation of rCBF were reduced with greater age and with increasing neuropsychological impairment. Dosage of neuroleptic medication was associated with reduced whole brain flow, not with percent frontal deviation flow. Previously reported differences in the resting rCBF of schizophrenics might he more closely related to the age of the subjects and to their neuropsychological impairment rather than the inherent progression of the disorder.

Recommended Citation

Goldstein, Perry C.; Brown, Gregory G.; Marcus, Andrew; and Ewing, James R. (1990) "Effects of Age, Neuropsychological Impairment, and Medication on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Schizophrenia and Major Affective Disorder," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 38 : No. 4 , 202-206.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol38/iss4/4