Brain volume changes in the first year of illness and 5-year outcome of schizophrenia.
Progressive brain volume changes have been reported in first-episode schizophrenia, but their relationship to the disease process or to other factors remains unclear. We examined such changes in the first year of illness, and related them to 5-year outcome. Progressive brain volume changes, in particular of grey matter, during the first year of illness were found to be significantly associated with clinical and functional outcome 5 years after the first episode. These findings suggest that early dynamic brain volume changes are related to the disease process and predict the longer-term outcome of schizophrenia.
Cahn
W
W
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 GX Utrecht, The Netherlands. wcahn@umcutrecht.nl
van Haren
N E M
NE
Hulshoff Pol
H E
HE
Schnack
H G
HG
Caspers
E
E
Laponder
D A J
DA
Kahn
R S
RS
D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors