A naturalistic study of grey matter volume increase after early treatment in anti-psychotic naïve, newly diagnosed schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Anti-psychotic treatment appears to be associated with striatal volume increase, but how early this change occurs is still unknown.


METHODS
A single prospective cohort of 20 anti-psychotic-naïve patients, newly diagnosed with schizophrenia, underwent magnetic resonance imaging brain scan at baseline. This was repeated following up to 8 weeks of anti-psychotic treatment. Ten patients had repeat scan within only 3 weeks. The choice of anti-psychotic medication was naturalistic, i.e., clinician-led. Well-matched healthy individuals were also scanned to control for non-specific changes over a 3-week period.


RESULTS
After 3 weeks of anti-psychotic treatment, significant grey matter volume increase in the right caudate, superior and inferior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobule was noted. However, after 8 weeks of anti-psychotic treatment, volume increase in the right thalamus and bilateral cerebellum was observed. Significant grey matter reduction was detected in the left medial frontal gyrus at both 3- and 8-week intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
Early increase in striatal volume change occurs as early as 3 weeks after anti-psychotic treatment, whilst thalamic volume increase is apparent later, by 8 weeks of treatment. We speculate that drug-mediated neuroplasticity may provide a biomarker for clinical recovery.
Deng
Michelle Y
MY
Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
McAlonan
Gráinne M
GM
Cheung
Charlton
C
Chiu
Cindy P Y
CP
Law
Chi W
CW
Cheung
Vinci
V
Sham
Pak C
PC
Chen
Eric Y H
EY
Chua
Siew E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers