Morphology of the ventral frontal cortex in schizophrenia: relationship with social dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Studies have reported premorbid as well as postonset social dysfunction in schizophrenia. This impairment has also been observed to emerge after lesions in the ventral aspect of the frontal cortex (i.e., straight gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex).


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 45 male patients with schizophrenia and 45 matched control subjects. Cortical gray matter volume and surface area were determined for the ventral frontal cortex (VFC), subdivided into the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the straight gyrus (SG).


RESULTS
The global measures of gray matter volume and surface area in the VFC was not significantly different between patients and control subjects; however, there was a regional difference, with the right SG volume and surface area being smaller in patients compared with control subjects. Volume of the VFC had an inverse correlation with measurements of both premorbid and postdiagnosis social function. The smaller the gray matter in these regions, the greater the social dysfunction. There was no relationship between morphology of this brain region and any other clinical variable.


CONCLUSIONS
Morphology of the VFC is directly related to abnormal social function in schizophrenia, including measures of social dysfunction that predate the onset of illness.
Chemerinski
Eran
E
Mental Health-Clinical Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1057, USA.
Nopoulos
Peggy C
PC
Crespo-Facorro
Benedicto
B
Andreasen
Nancy C
NC
Magnotta
Vincent
V
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors