Cavum septum pellucidum in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: compared with first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
The cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is a space between the two leaflets of the septum pellucidum, and is a putative marker of disturbance in early brain development. We examined whether CSP was present more frequently in subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis compared to first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (genetic high risk, GHR) and healthy controls (HC).


METHODS
We evaluated CSP in 87 subjects (30 UHR, 23 GHR, and 34 HC) according to a published grading system using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 0.45-mm slice thickness. We also assessed two other criteria: presence of CSP on at least one MRI slice, and abnormally large CSP (i.e., > or =6 mm in length). Correlational analysis between CSP measures and clinical symptoms was also examined.


RESULTS
Based on the grading scale, the UHR group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of abnormal CSP (grades 2, 3, and 4) compared to the HC group, but there were no significant differences in the incidence of abnormal CSP between the UHR and GHR or the GHR and HC groups. There were no significant differences among the groups in the presence of CSP on at least one MRI slice or abnormally large CSP based on the length of CSP. In addition, no significant correlations between CSP measures and clinical symptoms were found.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that abnormal CSP might be associated with susceptibility to psychosis, although the CSP itself might be a normal anatomical variant. Further studies using a larger sample are needed to clarify issues on neurodevelopmental perspective in subjects at high risk for psychosis.
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Center, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jung-Seok
JS
Choi
Do-Hyung
DH
Kang
Ji-Young
JY
Park
Wi Hoon
WH
Jung
Chi-Hoon
CH
Choi
Myong-Wuk
MW
Chon
Myung Hun
MH
Jung
Jong-Min
JM
Lee
Jun Soo
JS
Kwon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology