Decreased caudate volume in neuroleptic-naive psychotic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies, mostly involving neuroleptic-treated patients, have suggested enlarged basal ganglia size in schizophrenia. The authors sought to examine basal ganglia volume in neuroleptic-naive psychotic patients.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging volumetric studies were conducted in newly diagnosed neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic psychotic patients and in matched healthy comparison subjects.


RESULTS
Both patient groups had bilaterally reduced caudate, but not putamen, volumes, compared to the healthy subjects, after adjustment for intracranial volume.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreases in caudate volume in newly diagnosed psychotic patients may be related to the primary pathophysiology of these disorders; prior observations of increased caudate volume may reflect effects of neuroleptic treatment.
Keshavan
M S
MS
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, USA. Keshavan+@Pitt.edu
Rosenberg
D
D
Sweeney
J A
JA
Pettegrew
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011699:Putamen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents