title: Psychosis and autism: magnetic resonance imaging study of brain anatomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism-spectrum disorder is increasingly recognised, with recent studies estimating that 1% of children in South London are affected. However, the biology of comorbid mental health problems in people with autism-spectrum disorder is poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the brain anatomy of people with autism-spectrum disorder with and without psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and compared 30 adults with autism-spectrum disorder (14 with a history psychosis) and 16 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls both autism-spectrum disorder groups had significantly less grey matter bilaterally in the temporal lobes and the cerebellum. In contrast, they had increased grey matter in striatal regions. However, those with psychosis also had a significant reduction in grey matter content of frontal and occipital regions. Contrary to our expectation, within autism-spectrum disorder, comparisons revealed that psychosis was associated with a reduction in grey matter of the right insular cortex and bilaterally in the cerebellum extending into the fusiform gyrus and the lingual gyrus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities normally associated with autism-spectrum disorder might represent an alternative 'entry-point' into a final common pathway of psychosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. fiona.toal@forensicare.vic.gov.au
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toal
authors.forename: Oswald J N
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bloemen
authors.forename: Quinton
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deeley
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tunstall
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: Kieran C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Declan G M
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult