The finding in schizophrenic patients of a reversal of the normal
frontal to posterior pattern of brain metabolic activity with positron
emission tomography (PET) is of interest, but its relevance to
psychopathology is unknown. Using PET, the authors studied 21 patients with
chronic schizophrenia and 21 age- and sex-matched control subjects.
Although eight of the 21 patients and only one of the control subjects
showed a relatively lower anteroposterior metabolic gradient, no clinical
correlates of this finding were noted. In addition, cerebral atrophy, as
determined by CAT scan, was not associated with this aberrant metabolic
pattern.Abstract Teaser