조현형 인격장애 : 임상 특성 및 휴지기 뇌 기능적 연결성 연구

Abstract

Introduction: Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) shares genetic susceptibilities and clinical features with schizophrenia. Despite growing interest for resting functional connectivity networks of schizophrenia, to date, little is known about the presumably abnormal resting–connectivity networks of SPD. The current study aimed to examine the resting–state default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity in individuals with schizotypal personality disorder using functional MRI. Methods: Twenty–five individuals with SPD and 39 HC underwent 3T resting-state functional scans. The connectivity analysis was performed by (1) Region of Interest (ROI)–to–ROI and (2) seed–to–voxel analysis. (1) We examined the functional connectivity between eighteen a priori ROIs of the DMN, a set of the most dominant and intrinsic resting state functional network. (2) To assess the abnormalities of connectivity built between the DMN components and the rest of the brain, seed-to-voxel connectivity estimations were also applied to the functional data. We also investigated associations between the features of resting-state networks and individual psychopathology. Results: Interactions among ROIs in the DMN significantly differed between the two groups. During resting state, the SPD group exhibited increased functional connectivity between the left middle frontal gyrus and both the bilateral posterior cingulate cortices and left parahippocampal gyrus. Additionally, connectivity between the right angular gyrus and bilateral posterior cingulate cortices was decreased in the SPD compared to the HC group. Seed–based correlation analysis revealed increased functional connectivity between the frontal lobe and the seed region, the posterior cingulate cortex. The altered temporal connectivity was significantly correlated with clinical symptoms. Conclusions: Individuals with SPD showed hyperconnectivity in the frontal region and parahippocampal gyrus during resting state and may partially represent a crucial psychopathology of SPD. These findings support the idea that SPD is located at the lower end of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maintaining distance from schizophrenia.