Violent persons with schizophrenia and comorbid disorders: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Schizophr Res. 2007 Mar;91(1-3):97-102. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.12.014. Epub 2007 Feb 7.

Abstract

The main goal of this functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study was to verify the hypothesis that seriously violent persons with Sz and the co-morbid diagnoses of an Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) and a Substance Use Disorder (Sz+APD+SUD) would present a different pattern of prefrontal functioning than seriously violent persons with Sz only. In support with the main hypothesis, frontal basal cortices were significantly less activated in persons with Sz+APD+SUD during the execution of a go/no-go task than in persons with Sz only and non-violent persons without a mental illness. In contrast, significantly higher activations in frontal motor, premotor and anterior cingulate regions were observed in the Sz+APD+SUD group than in the Sz-only group.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology*
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data*