Open AccessBrain imaging features in schizophrenia with co‐occurring auditory verbal hallucinations and depressive symptoms—Implication for novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate the reciprocal deterioration
Author(s) -
Zhuo Chuanjun,
Fang Tao,
Chen Ce,
Chen Min,
Sun Yun,
Ma Xiaoyan,
Li Ranli,
Tian Hongjun,
Ping Jing
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.1991
Subject(s) - schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , neuroimaging , psychology , transcranial magnetic stimulation , functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , transcranial direct current stimulation , brain stimulation , pathological , depression (economics) , functional imaging , major depressive disorder , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , stimulation , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
Background Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in schizophrenia, and recent progress has been made in understanding the reciprocal deterioration of both symptoms through structural and functional brain imaging studies. To date, there is limited literature on this topic. In this review, we synthesized the recent literature on the neuroimaging features of schizophrenia patients with concurrent AVHs and depressive symptoms. Methods A literature search was conducted with the major databases using the keywords, mainly including schizophrenia, AVHs, depression, neuropsychiatric disorders, brain imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging. Results The existing studies have shown that AVHs and depressive symptoms reciprocally deteriorate in patients with schizophrenia, which has challenged the conventional treatment of the disease. Interestingly, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapies have emerged as two efficacious brain stimulation treatments that can normalize the brain regions associated with the symptoms, as shown through functional and structural brain imaging studies. In light of these important findings, there is an urgent need to conduct in‐depth neuronal mechanistic studies to identify targets for stimulation therapy. Conclusions These new findings may elucidate the pathological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia with concurrent AVHs and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, this review has important clinical implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate the reciprocal deterioration AVHs and depressive symptoms of schizophrenia patients.