Similar effect of family history of psychosis on Sylvian fissure size and auditory P200 amplitude in schizophrenic and bipolar subjects.
Several cerebral studies point to the non-specificity of structural and functional changes described in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Furthermore, the origin of these changes is still unclear. The present study investigated the effect of a family history (FH) of psychotic disorders in first-degree relatives on computed tomographic (CT) measures (ventricular, cerebral and Sylvian fissure size) and auditory event-related potentials (amplitudes and latencies of peak components in oddball paradigms) in 30 schizophrenic patients and 24 bipolar type I patients. We found a significant correlation between FH and the size of the right Sylvian fissure, and between FH and auditory P200 amplitude. More specifically, the schizophrenic and bipolar patients with negative FH (n=36) had larger right Sylvian fissures and smaller P200 amplitude than patients with positive FH (n=18). These findings were independent of the specific diagnosis, gender, and age of subjects. Our results suggest some underlying process common to schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, and they provide support for the continuum view of the nosologic structure of psychotic illness.
Tabarés-Seisdedos
R
R
Teaching Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez 17, 4600 Valencia, Spain. rafael.tabares@uv.es
Balanzá-Martínez
V
V
Pallardó
Y
Y
Salazar-Fraile
J
J
Selva
G
G
Vilela
C
C
Vallet
M
M
Leal
C
C
Gómez-Beneyto
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed