Cortico-thalamo-cerebellar connection as a biological marker of schizophrenia using fMRI and DTI

COEX 

Mental illness is still diagnosed and treated using phenomenological symptoms. Because phenomenological classifications do not accurately reflect the underlying pathophysiological brain abnormalities, the importance of biological markers using brain imaging is increasing. These imaging markers can be used for classification, treatment prediction, and personalized treatment in psychiatric disorders. However, clinical use of brain imaging is still limited in mental disorders, except for neurological diseases. The brain abnormalities in mental illness are very subtle, so the results are still inconsistent across the studies. Currently, we are studying whether cortico-thalamo-cerebellar connectivity by fMRI and DTI to explore the structural and functional connections that can be a biological marker of schizophrenia. In this talk, I will talk about the importance of biological markers in psychiatric disorders as a clinical use. Further, cortico-thalamo-cerebellar connectivity with fMRI and DTI will be discussed as a possible candidate for a marker to reflect the stage of schizophrenia, including high-risk for psychosis (genetic, clinical) and first-episode psychosis.