Posted by Toby on August 13, 1998, at 16:23:23
In reply to Schizophrenia/ Neuropathology , posted by Levi on August 13, 1998, at 2:54:27
CT scans in schizophrenics show that the ventricles in the middle of the brain are enlarged and their brains are somewhat smaller than normal. It is unknown whether that decrease in brain tissue is due to degeneration or to abnormal development. MRI scans show samller limbic areas in schizophrenics which seems to correlate with the severity of symptoms. PET scans which measure blood flow to the brain show decreased activity in the frontal regions and less activation when undergoing certain kinds of cognitive tests. EEG studies show abnormal electrical activity. Schizophrenics show alot of neurologic abnormalities like abnormal eye movements, abnormal reflexes, speech difficulties, tics, impaired fine motor skills, and abnormal movements. Unfortunately, so far none of these findings is completely consistent between patients and none by themselves is diagnostic. Maybe in some patients, it take a little bit of all of the abnormalities to make them schizophrenic and in other patients it takes a lot of one abnormality to make them schizophrenic. More thoughts?
poster:Toby
thread:289
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19980801/msgs/301.html