Neuroprotection in Schizophrenia

Longitudinal and structural neuroimaging studies show that patients withschizophrenia that converted to psychosis were found to have progressive graymatter loss in the cortex.  Gray matter loss was also associated with functionaldecline. While the underlying mechanisms of gray matter loss remainuncertain, evidence of improved outcomes suggests neuroprotection, the maintenance of the functional integrity of the brain in response toneurobiological stress, in schizophrenia is possible. In order to protect against graymatter loss and slow functional decline following the onset of psychosis, newdata suggests that an appropriate antipsychotic chosen at first episode canmodify the rate of structural deterioration, which can lead to improved outcome.

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