CEREBELLAR VERMAL ATROPHY IN PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

Abstract

Patients who have functional psychosis (50%) or seizures (38%) show cerebellar vermal atrophy on visual inspection of computerized axial tomography head scans, in contrast to 0.5-3.7% of patients with other disorders. Scans (1700) were read visually. To demonstrate cerebellar vermal atrophy objectively, 2 methods were used: low-density measurements of the posterior fossa in relationship to total brain area; and sagittal reconstruction of the vermis. Cerebellar vermal atrophy evidently reduces the cerebellum''s inhibitory influences on activity of the rostral forebrain structures where unit overactivity has been correlated with emotional dyscontrol and clinical seizures. Cerebellar vermal atrophy evidently reduces facilitory activity of the brain''s pleasure system (septal region).