Neurological soft signs, temperament and schizotypy in patients with schizophrenia and unaffected relatives: an FMRI study

• Autores: Liliana Galindo Guarin
• Directores de la Tesis: Daniel Bergè Baquero (dir. tes.), Oscar Vilarroya Oliver (codir. tes.), V. Pérez Solá (codir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( España ) en 2017
• Idioma: español
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Enric Alvarez Martinez (presid.), EMILI0 FERNANDEZ EGEA (secret.), Clemente García Rizo (voc.)
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Psiquiatría por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
• Materias:
  • Ciencias médicas
    • Psiquiatría
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en:  DDD  TDX 
• Resumen

  • Schizophrenia is a complex, heterogeneous behavioural and cognitive syndrome that seems to originate from disruption of brain development caused by genetic or environmental factors, or both. The genetic basis may be present in individuals without disease, as in the case of relatives of patients, being detectable through biological markers.

    This study explores the abnormalities in the functional connectivity of the default mode network related to the association between neurological soft signs and personality in schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study comparing 3 groups: patients with schizophrenia, unaffected relatives and healthy controls.

    In order to explore the association of these potential biomarkers of schizophrenia the study was composed of two parts: • Neurological soft signs and personality traits: the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and an evaluation of Neurological Soft Signs were performed.

    • Functional connectivity in the default mode network and neurological soft signs: a fMRI resting state was performed.

    The major finding in this study was that patients with schizophrenia and nonpsychotic relatives display a unique profile of temperament and character and higher schizotypal traits that correlate with higher presence of NSS. The neuroimaging results showed connectivity changes in the DMN with a possible association with the presence of neurological soft signs. These findings support the theory of cognitive dysmetria as a possible dysfunction in cortical-thalamic-cerebellar connectivity of the schizophrenia. This model also could explain the diversity of symptoms in schizophrenia and their associations (like this study that includes personality and sensory and motor functions).