Sophia Mueller MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Daniel Keeser, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kristina Fast MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christina Fuchs, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ute Coates, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maximilian F. Reiser MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Michael Meindl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chronic schizophrenia (SCZ) is characterized by decreased intrinsic functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) as compared to healthy controls. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if intrinsic functional connectivity of the DMN is associated with symptom severity as estimated by the positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS).

Resting state functional connectivity data was obtained from 23 SCZ patients (mean age 37.9 +/- 11.8 yrs, 8 female). Functional EPI sequences and a high-resolution MPRAGE sequence were acquired at 3.0 Tesla (Magnetom VERIO, Siemens, Germany). Preprocessing was performed using FSL 4.16. The DMN of each individual was extracted applying dual regression independent component analysis. Voxel-wise regression coefficients for the psychological test items PANSS (subscales total, positive symptoms and negative symptoms) and trait anxiety were estimated by using a mixed-effects general linear model. Significantly correlated vexels are reported at a threshold of p < 0.005.

Within the DMN connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex was negatively correlated with severity of positive symptoms and anxiety. Connectivity between the DMN and the right striatum was negatively correlated with general symptom severity as measured by the PANSS total score. No correlation between severity of negative symptoms and DMN connectivity was detected.

Intrinsic functional connectivity of the DMN as measured by resting state functional MRI is not only capable of detecting group differences between SCZ patients and healthy controls but can also provide an imaging correlate for differential symptom severity in SCZ patients.

As an imaging correlate of symptom severity in SCZ, DMN connectivity might serve as an imaging marker to monitor treatment effects and as a potential intermediate phenotype for schizophrenia risk genes.

Mueller, S, Keeser, D, Fast, K, Fuchs, C, Coates, U, Reiser, M, Meindl, T, Intrinsic Functional Connectivity of the Default Mode Network is Associated with Symptom Severity in Schizophrenia.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14010243.html