title: Increase in gray matter and decrease in white matter volumes in the cortex during treatment with atypical neuroleptics in schizophrenia.
abstract: The effects of atypical antipsychotic treatment on the brain volume deficits associated with schizophrenia are poorly understood. We assessed the brain volumes of eleven healthy controls and 29 patients with schizophrenia, using magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at follow-up after two years of treatment with atypical neuroleptics. Two groups of patients were analyzed: treatment-naïve patients (n = 17) and chronic treatment-resistant patients (n = 12). Treatment-naïve patients received risperidone during the follow-up period, whereas chronic patients received clozapine. Gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes in the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes were measured. Contrary to the controls, both groups of patients presented GM increases and WM decreases in the parietal and occipital lobes (p < .005). Frontal GM also increased in the chronic group with clozapine. There was a significant (p < .001) inverse relationship between the baseline volumes (GM deficit/WM excess) and the longitudinal change. These GM and WM changes were not related to changes in weight. Thus, treatment with risperidone and clozapine in schizophrenia may have an effect on gray and white matter volume and needs further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico Universitario, P S. Vicente, 58-182. Salamanca 37007, Spain. vmolina@usal.es
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reig
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palomo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarramea
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pascau
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone