A Review of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Schizophrenia

Functional and structural neural pathway disconnection may play a prominent role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging technique ideally suited to investigate neuroanatomical connectivity in schizophrenia. DTI provides information about the integrity and physiology of white matter fiber tracts. This review describes basic DTI methods and studies of schizophrenia. The aims are to provide a basic understanding of the DTI imaging technique, describe general DTI study findings in schizophrenia and genetically vulnerable populations, and the pathological mechanisms that may account for white matter disturbances in schizophrenia.