A longitudinal study on the effects of typical versus atypical antipsychotic drugs on hippocampal volume in schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported that hippocampal volumes correlate with symptom severity in schizophrenia. This longitudinal study measured changes in symptoms and hippocampal volume in patients switched from typical antipsychotics to olanzapine.


METHODS
MRI scans were acquired from patients with chronic schizophrenia (n=10) and healthy volunteers (n=20). At baseline, patients were treated with typical antipsychotics for at least one year, then switched to olanzapine, and rescanned approximately one year later.


RESULTS
Olanzapine treatment resulted in no significant change in right or left hippocampal volume. Individual changes in right hippocampal volume correlated significantly with changes in symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Hippocampal volume change may serve as a marker of symptom change in patients on olanzapine.
Panenka
William J
WJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 828 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 1L8. williampanenka@hotmail.com
Khorram
Babak
B
Barr
Alasdair M
AM
Smith
Geoffrey N
GN
Lang
Donna J
DJ
Kopala
Lili C
LC
Vandorpe
Robert A
RA
Honer
William G
WG
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine