Neuroimaging communality between schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder: a putative basis for schizo-obsessive disorder?

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Jul;4(3):129-34. doi: 10.1080/15622970310029907.

Abstract

Four major brain regions have been repeatedly implicated in the pathophysiology of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in in vivo neuroimaging studies: the caudate nucleus, the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate gyrus and the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. The present review describes the neuroimaging studies on schizophrenia, pertaining to these brain regions. Our working hypothesis is that such common brain regions, if dysfunctional in schizophrenic patients, would be candidates for a neural network subserving the newly emerging syndrome of schizo-obsessive disorder. Findings, though, are controversial. We conclude that further studies, aimed at specific monitoring of these brain regions, in patients suffering from the schizo-obsessive syndrome are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / abnormalities
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Caudate Nucleus / abnormalities
  • Caudate Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gyrus Cinguli / abnormalities
  • Gyrus Cinguli / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus / abnormalities
  • Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus / metabolism
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / abnormalities
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism*
  • Terminology as Topic*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed*