Brain anatomy in adults with velocardiofacial syndrome with and without schizophrenia: preliminary results of a structural magnetic resonance imaging study.
BACKGROUND
Velocardiofacial syndrome is associated with interstitial deletions of chromosome 22q11, mild to borderline learning disability, characteristic dysmorphology, and a high prevalence of schizophrenia. The biological basis for this increased risk for schizophrenia is unknown, but people with velocardiofacial syndrome may have genetically determined differences in brain anatomy that predispose to the development of schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there are differences in brain structure between subjects with velocardiofacial syndrome with and without schizophrenia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional quantitative structural magnetic resonance imaging study in 39 adult subjects.


METHODS
Referrals were made through medical genetics clinics and psychiatric services throughout the United Kingdom.


METHODS
Thirteen subjects with velocardiofacial syndrome and schizophrenia, 12 with velocardiofacial syndrome without history of a psychosis, and 14 healthy controls volunteered to participate after screening for eligibility.


METHODS
Total and regional brain volumes were analyzed by means of manual tracing, and gray- and white-matter densities were obtained by computerized voxel-based methods.


RESULTS
People with velocardiofacial syndrome and schizophrenia, compared with both controls and nonschizophrenic patients with velocardiofacial syndrome, had a significant (P<.05) reduction in volume of whole-brain (white + gray) matter and whole-brain white matter, and an increase in total and sulcal cerebrospinal fluid volume. Both velocardiofacial syndrome groups had a reduced cerebellar volume compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Within velocardiofacial syndrome, schizophrenia is associated with generalized differences in brain anatomy, but white matter may be particularly implicated. Studies with larger samples are needed to replicate our findings.
van Amelsvoort
Therese
T
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, England. t.a.vanamelsvoort@amc.uva.nl
Daly
Eileen
E
Henry
Jayne
J
Robertson
Dene
D
Ng
Virginia
V
Owen
Michael
M
Murphy
Kieran C
KC
Murphy
Declan G M
DG
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004062:DiGeorge Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology