Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics of Brain Structure and Neuroendocrine Changes in Patients with First-Episode Schizophrenia

Abstract

This research was aimed to investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of brain structure and neuroendocrine levels in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. 25 hospitalized patients with first-episode schizophrenia were selected as the observation group, while 25 healthy people were selected as the control group. All the objects underwent MRI examination, and the images as well as gray matter density of the original image data were analyzed under voxel-based morphometry (VBM). The cortisol and prolactin in the observation group were detected, and the levels were compared. The Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to analyze the correlation between cortisol and prolactin levels and the total score of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The results showed that the gray matter volume of the precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, superior parietal lobule, and anterior cingulate cortex of the observation group decreased, while the volume of cerebellar gray matter increased. The levels of cortisol and prolactin in the observation group (387.54 ± 117.69 μg/L and 804.16 ± 267.13 μIU/mL, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the control group (138.46 ± 62.47 μg/L and 397.54 ± 203.82 μIU/mL, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). The results of the Pearson correlation test showed that the higher the cortisol level, the more severe the schizophrenia (r = 0.421 and $P=0.013$ ), while the prolactin level was not directly related to the severity of schizophrenia (r = 0.019 and $P=0.568$ ). In conclusion, the MRI features based on the VBM technology can accurately assess the changes of gray matter; the levels of cortisol and prolactin in patients with first-episode schizophrenia were significantly higher than those in healthy people; and the higher the cortisol level, the more severe the schizophrenia symptoms. This study provided a certain research basis for MRI features of brain structure and neuroendocrine changes in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.