Hippocampal volume in familial and nonfamilial schizophrenic probands and their unaffected relatives.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence for hippocampal volume loss in schizophrenia, but the etiology of this remains unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the contribution of familial liability and obstetric complications to hippocampal volume reduction in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Hippocampal volumes were obtained using stereological methods from magnetic resonance scans performed on 35 schizophrenic probands from multiply affected families and 63 of their unaffected relatives, as well as 31 schizophrenic probands from families with no other affected members, 33 of their unaffected relatives, and 68 control subjects.


RESULTS
Probands with schizophrenia, regardless of family history, had significant volume reduction of the left hippocampus. Hippocampal volume was not significantly reduced in either group of relatives. Obstetric complications were associated with left hippocampal volume reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
We failed to find evidence that hippocampal volume loss is associated with familial liability to schizophrenia but have confirmed the association between hippocampal volume reduction and exposure to obstetric complications.
Schulze
Katja
K
Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
McDonald
Colm
C
Frangou
Sophia
S
Sham
Pak
P
Grech
Anton
A
Toulopoulou
Timothea
T
Walshe
Muriel
M
Sharma
Tonmoy
T
Sigmundsson
Thordur
T
Taylor
Mark
M
Murray
Robin M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology