Reduced olfactory bulb volume in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal in this study was to compare the size of olfactory bulbs of patients with schizophrenia and those of healthy subjects.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging scans of olfactory bulbs were obtained from 26 patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy comparison subjects. A reliable region of interest procedure was used to measure olfactory bulb volume.


RESULTS
Patients exhibited 23% smaller bilateral bulb volume than comparison subjects, independent of acute clinical, demographic, or treatment measures. Bulb volume correlated with odor detection sensitivity in healthy subjects but not in patients with schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with schizophrenia exhibit structural olfactory deficits as well as functional olfactory deficits. The olfactory system may be a model system in which to study the neurobiology of the disorder.
Turetsky
B I
BI
Department of Psychiatry, Radiology, and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. turetsky@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
Moberg
P J
PJ
Yousem
D M
DM
Doty
R L
RL
Arnold
S E
SE
Gur
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology