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White matter correlates of the disorganized speech dimension in schizophrenia

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Abstract

Disorganized speech is related to functional abnormalities in schizophrenia. To test the association between formal thought disorders (FTDs) and white matter microstructure, we applied a behavioral rating and diffusion tensor imaging in 61 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Bern Psychopathology Scale was used to rate the dimension of language abnormalities ranging from negative FTDs, basically unaltered speech, to positive FTDs. Tract-based spatial statistics indicated increased fractional anisotropy in left hemispheric pathways of the language system in patients with negative FTDs. Thus, altered white matter properties in relevant fiber tracts may represent vulnerability to specific formal thought disorders.

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Acknowledgements

This study received funding from the Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation (to Sebastian Walther) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF grant 152619/1 to Sebastian Walther, Andrea Federspiel and Stephan Bohlhalter).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland

    Petra V. Viher, Katharina Stegmayer, Stéphanie Giezendanner, Andrea Federspiel, Werner Strik & Sebastian Walther

  2. Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

    Stephan Bohlhalter

  3. Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Stephan Bohlhalter

  4. Support Center of Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

    Roland Wiest

Authors
  1. Petra V. Viher
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  2. Katharina Stegmayer
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  3. Stéphanie Giezendanner
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  4. Andrea Federspiel
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  5. Stephan Bohlhalter
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  6. Roland Wiest
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  7. Werner Strik
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  8. Sebastian Walther
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Correspondence to Petra V. Viher.

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The authors have declared that there are no conflicts of interest in relation to the subject of this study.

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Viher, P.V., Stegmayer, K., Giezendanner, S. et al. White matter correlates of the disorganized speech dimension in schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 268, 99–104 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0753-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0753-y

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