Cardiac Dysfunction in People with Schizophrenia: Linking Clinical Outcome, the Heart, and the Brain

The link between cardiac dysfunction and clinical outcome remains poorly understood in people with schizophrenia. The current study was an exploratory analysis among clinical outcome, cardiac function, and brain volume of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Participants who achieved remission showed significantly better global functioning and lower positive and negative symptoms. Cardiac function and structure and ACC grey matter volume were measured using MRI. Cardiac function and structure did not differ between remitted and non-remitted groups; however, those not in remission had significantly less volume in the left ACC. While no significant relationships were found between ACC volume and clinical symptoms, there were inverse relationships between social withdrawal and cardiac function and structure. Bilateral ACC volume significantly correlated with cardiac function and structure. These results support that clinical outcome is related to brain volume but may not be related to cardiac measures of function and structure in people with schizophrenia.