Diseases of white matter and schizophrenia-like psychosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the available data regarding the presentation of psychosis in diseases of central nervous system (CNS) white matter. METHOD: The available neurological and psychiatric literature on developmental, neoplastic, infective, immunological and other white matter diseases was reviewed. RESULTS: A number of diseases of the white matter can present as schizophrenia-like psychoses, including leukodystrophies, neoplasms, velocardiofacial syndrome, callosal anomalies and inflammatory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Production of psychotic symptoms may result from functional asynchrony of interdependent regions, due to alterations in critical circuits as a result of pathology. The nature, lo..