Structural brain abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia at the extremes of the outcome spectrum.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the relationship between outcome and structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Intracranial volume and volumes of the cerebrum, gray and white matter, lateral and third ventricles, frontal lobes, thalamus, and cerebellum were measured in 20 patients with a poor outcome, 25 with a favorable outcome, and 23 healthy comparison subjects with magnetic resonance imaging.


RESULTS
Thalamic volume was significantly smaller both in poor-outcome patients and good-outcome patients. In contrast, only poor-outcome patients displayed significantly smaller cerebral gray matter, particularly prefrontal, and enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles. No significant differences were found for intracranial, cerebellar, or cortical CSF volumes.


CONCLUSIONS
Smaller thalamic volumes in schizophrenia may reflect a greater susceptibility for the disorder and seem unrelated to outcome. In contrast, gray matter volume loss of the cerebrum, particularly in the frontal lobes, and lateral and third ventricular enlargement appear related to outcome in schizophrenia.
Staal
W G
WG
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands. w.staal@psych.azu.ne
Hulshoff Pol
H E
HE
Schnack
H G
HG
van Haren
N E
NE
Seifert
N
N
Kahn
R S
RS
D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents