Neuroimaging and neuropathology

Discusses the role of neuropathology and neuroimaging in the elucidation of brain abnormalities in schizophrenic syndrome. Schizophrenia research has entered an era of brain research. As can be readily ascertained from this report, there is a broad choice of approaches available for the direct study of the brain of living subjects (neuroimaging) and deceased subjects (neuropathology) which can give valuable information about both structure and function. Unfortunately, these approaches are not cheap. Moreover, money is not the only problem. Although cyclotrons and scanners are costly, neurochemists to create ligands may be even harder to find. Alternatives such as SPECT should be explored as well. Techniques such as NMRS and MEG, which are relatively less developed, will require substantial investments in chemistry and physics before they will yield results in clinical studies. Attracting expert personnel to work on these problems is a major challenge, but one that seems well worth the effort. Similar problems with techniques and personnel exist for neuropathology. This field cannot contribute to schizophrenia research without specimens. Attracting neuropathologists, expanding brain banks, and starting new brain collections for fixed and frozen materials is not a simple matter. Brain banks which distribute specimens to investigators have been invaluable in the last decade. New collections for specific research groups need to be promoted as well. Wherever possible, pre-mortem exams of targeted populations would greatly enhance neuropathological studies. These studies will require time and money, but again, the effort seems to be one worth making. Insofar as schizophrenia is a syndrome that involves the brain, it seems logical that neuroimaging and neuropathology can make significant contributions to understanding its causes and to developing new treatments. With these goals in mind, it seems clear that major investments should be made in neuroimaging and neuropathology to improve existing techniques, to develop new approaches, and to attract new and essential personnel to schizophrenia research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)