Cavum septum pellucidum and adhesio interthalamica in schizophrenia: an MRI study.
Several studies have independently suggested that patients with schizophrenia are more likely to have an enlarged cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and an absent adhesio interthalamica (AI), respectively. However, neither finding has been consistently replicated and it is unclear whether there is an association between these two midline brain abnormalities. Thus, we compared the prevalence of absent AI and the prevalence, size and volume of CSP in 38 patients with schizophrenia and 38 healthy controls using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There were no between group differences in the presence or volume of CSP; however, an enlarged CSP was commoner among patients than controls. There was also a positive correlation between CSP ratings and volumes. No differences in the presence or absence of the AI were found between patients and controls; however, an absent AI was commoner in male patients with schizophrenia than females. There was absolutely no overlap between the presence of a large CSP and an absence of AI. In conclusion, our findings are in line with several case series and other MRI investigations that have shown a higher incidence of putatively developmental brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia, particularly in males, and support the neurodevelopmental model of this disorder.
de Souza Crippa
José Alexandre
JA
Department of Neuropsychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. jcrippa@fmrp.usp.br
Zuardi
Antonio Waldo
AW
Busatto
Geraldo F
GF
Sanches
Rafael Faria
RF
Santos
Antonio Carlos
AC
Araújo
David
D
Amaro
Edson
E
Hallak
Jaime Eduardo Cecílio
JE
Ng
Virginia
V
McGuire
Philip K
PK
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013788:Thalamus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*