A neuropsychological perspective on three schizophrenic patients with midline structural defects.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between midline structural defects and schizophrenia remains unclear, although a number of neuroradiological studies have reported an association between schizophrenia and a range of anomalies.

METHOD: Three patients are reported, each diagnosed with schizophrenia and neuroradiological evidence of midline structural anomalies. MRI scans are reported in conjunction with performance over a range of neuropsychological tests designed to assess frontal and lateralised cognitive functions.

RESULTS

Evidence of anterior dysfunction was present in all three cases, while on an individual basis patients displayed varying patterns of preserved and dysfunctional cognitive processing.

CONCLUSION

The reported findings raise a number of interesting issues regarding the nature of hemispheric involvement in schizophrenia.