Volume reduction of the amygdala in patients with schizophrenia: a magnetic resonance imaging study.
The amygdala is known to be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia. While only a limited number of studies in schizophrenia have measured the amygdala as a single structure. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia would show reduced volumes in the amygdala compared with normal controls. We investigated amygdala volume in 40 patients with schizophrenia (20 males, 20 females) and 40 age- and gender-matched normal controls using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Whole volumes of both the amygdala and the temporal lobe were measured on consecutive coronal 1-mm slices. The amygdala volume was significantly smaller in schizophrenia patients than in controls. Considering gender differences, male patients had significantly smaller volumes in the bilateral amygdala than male controls; female patients had a significantly reduced right amygdala compared with female controls. Furthermore, a significant left-smaller-than-right volumetric asymmetry of the amygdala was detected in male patients with schizophrenia. The results may be important for understanding the role of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the anatomical substrates of gender difference in the expressions of the illness.
Niu
Lisha
L
Department of Psychology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. mmatsui@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Matsui
Mie
M
Zhou
Shi-Yu
SY
Hagino
Hirofumi
H
Takahashi
Tsutomu
T
Yoneyama
Eiichi
E
Kawasaki
Yasuhiro
Y
Suzuki
Michio
M
Seto
Hikaru
H
Ono
Taketoshi
T
Kurachi
Masayoshi
M
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities