Can brain imaging address psychosocial functioning and outcome in schizophrenia?

In the last two decades, brain imaging has made a pivotal contribution in the comprehension of the biological features of schizophrenia. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents nowadays the gold standard technique for in vivo exploring the pathophysiology of the disease, because of its high contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution, without radiation exposure. Based on the imaging studies, there is evidence that schizophrenia is characterised by fronto-temporal and callosal abnormalities, which may partly sustain the deficits of cognition and functioning. Since 2003, the Inter-University Center for Behavioural Neurosciences (ICBN) has been specifically exploring the neural underpinnings of schizophrenia, confirming, along with other international laboratories, the presence of disrupted microstructure of the corpus callosum and of the cortical white matter in the disease. The ICBN has therefore been trying to contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and has currently been attempting to couple imaging findings to psychosocial psychiatry, continuing and expanding Professor Tansella's epidemiological studies.