Summary

Aim: This study examined 1H MRS detected metabolite levels (in left frontal, temporal lobes and thalamus) and clinical and cognitive features of patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia.

Material and method: We studied 31 first-episode patients (group 1) and 17 chronic patients (group 2) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia (and 13 healthy subjects). Patients were also assessed by the means of PANSS, CGI, Calgary scales and WCST, TMT, Stroop tests. Results: We didn't observe any statistically significant differences in metabolite levels between group 1 and 2. We observed only a trend toward a higher Cho level in temporal lobe in group 2 and lower NAA level in group 1. When comparing with the control group, we observed a significantly higher Cho level in the frontal lobe (group 1, 2) (p<0.05). We also observed a trend toward lower NAA levels in the frontal lobe (group 1, 2), and lower NAA level in the temporal lobe (group 1). Patients with chronic schizophrenia performed significantly worse in WCST, TMT and Stroop tests (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that abnormalities in metabolite levels in frontal and temporal lobes are present at the onset of disease and don't progress over time. The cognitive dysfunction is more prominent in chronic patients.