Pre-frontal structural and functional deficits associated with individual differences in schizotypal personality

Schizophr Res. 1992 Sep;7(3):237-47. doi: 10.1016/0920-9964(92)90018-z.

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that pre-frontal deficits underlie schizotypal personality in the normal population. Personality measures assessing features of DSM-IIIR schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) were related to left and right pre-frontal brain area assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychological measures of pre-frontal functioning (Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, WCST) in a group of non-institutionalized, unmedicated normal subjects. High schizotypal scores were significantly associated with reduced pre-frontal area and more WCST perseveration errors; conversely no relationships were observed between these pre-frontal measures and measures of psychosis-proneness unrelated to SPD traits. Pre-frontal structural findings were not found to be mediated by temporal lobe and posterior cortical structural deficits, height, weight, socio-economic status, education level and sex differences, while pre-frontal functional findings were not mediated by non-prefrontal cognitive ability. These findings of pre-frontal structural and functional deficits associated with schizotypal personality provide some initial converging support for a pre-frontal explanation of individual differences in schizotypal personality in the general population.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / diagnosis
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology