White Matter Microstructural Changes in Psychotic Spectrum Disorder are Associated With Cognitive Function and Symptoms

Abstract

White matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in Psychotic Spectrum Disorders (PSD) can now be assessed using novel diffusion MRI (dMRI) techniques. We applied Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) and Neurite Orientation Density and Dispersion Imaging Bingham (NODDI-B) alongside Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to obtain metrics of WM density, orientation dispersion, and complexity and better describe WM microstructural changes in PSD. We additionally tested whether dMRI metrics are associated with cognition and schizotypal symptoms in patients and controls.