Shape of caudate nucleus and its cognitive correlates in neuroleptic-naive schizotypal personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
We measured the shape of the head of the caudate nucleus with a new approach based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) subjects in whom we previously reported decreased caudate nucleus volume. We believe MRI shape analysis complements traditional MRI volume measurements.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to measure the shape of the caudate nucleus in 15 right-handed male subjects with SPD, who had no prior neuroleptic exposure, and in 14 matched normal comparison subjects. With MRI processing tools, we measured the head of the caudate nucleus using a shape index, which measured how much a given shape deviates from a sphere.


RESULTS
In relation to comparison subjects, neuroleptic never-medicated SPD subjects had significantly higher (more "edgy") head of the caudate shape index scores, lateralized to the right side. Additionally, for SPD subjects, higher right and left head of the caudate SI scores correlated significantly with poorer neuropsychological performance on tasks of visuospatial memory and auditory/verbal working memory, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These data confirm the value of measuring shape, as well as volume, of brain regions of interest and support the association of intrinsic pathology in the caudate nucleus, unrelated to neuroleptic medication, with cognitive abnormalities in the schizophrenia spectrum.
Levitt
James J
JJ
Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, Massachusetts 02301, USA.
Westin
Carl Fredrik
CF
Nestor
Paul G
PG
Estepar
Raul S J
RS
Dickey
Chandlee C
CC
Voglmaier
Martina M
MM
Seidman
Larry J
LJ
Kikinis
Ron
R
Jolesz
Ferenc A
FA
McCarley
Robert W
RW
Shenton
Martha E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic