Resting-state functional connectivity analysis in first-episode schizophrenia children with and without obsessive-compulsive symptom

Objective Measuring effects of obsessive-compulsive symptom on resting-state functional connectivity changes for children with first-episode schizophrenia. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data analysis toolkit (REST) were employed to analyze resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The data were obtained from 51 children with first-episode schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls (HCG). The children with schizophrenia were divided into two groups, 21 ones with obsessive-compulsive symptom (OCG), and 30 ones without obsessive-compulsive symptom (NOCG). The right side of the medial frontal gyrus was selected as seed point to analyze its functional connectivity with the whole brain, utilizing REST. And the MNI coordinate was set as (18, 42, 27). Connectivity differences between any two groups were compared by two-sample t-test. Results Compared with HCG, functional connectivity with the left frontal lobe in OCG and NOCG was strengthened, while functional connectivity with the left precentral gyrus, the left inferior frontal gyrus, the left medial frontal gyrus, and the right frontal lobe was weakened (t=4.141, -4.223, -4.833, -4.636, -3.859, P<0.05). In NOCG, functional connectivity with the right middle occipital gyrus and parietal, the left inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus was enhanced, while functional connectivity with the left lentiform nucleus, the left medial frontal gyrus, the left cingulate gyrus, the right lentiform nucleus, the right brainstem and frontal lobe was weakened(t=3.735, 4.321, 3.453, 4.393, -3.134, -3.987, -3.456, -4.739, -4.034, -4.322, P< 0.05). In OCG, functional connectivity with the right middle frontal gyrus, and the left frontal lobe was enhanced, but connectivity with the right cerebellum anterior lobe, and the right precuneus was weakened (t= 4.493, 4.403, 4.259, -3.513, -3.522, P<0.05). In OCG, compared with NOCG, functional connectivity with brain regions including the right middle frontal gyrus, the right lentiform nucleus, and the right inferior parietal lobule was strengthened, while functional connectivity with brain regions including the right cerebellum anterior lobe, and the right precuneus was weakened (t=4.493, 4.403, 4.259, -3.513, -3.522, P< 0.05). Conclusions For children with first-episode schizophrenia with and without obsessive-compulsive symptom, there may be differences in resting-state functional connectivity disorder. Obsessive-compulsive symptom may have effect on resting-state functional connectivity changes for children in first-episode schizophrenia. Key words: Schizophrenia; Children; Compulsive; Resting-state function imaging