title: Alteration to hippocampal shape in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia.
abstract: Abnormalities in hippocampal morphology are characteristic of schizophrenia and have also been reported in chronic cannabis users. There is a paucity of research investigating potential additive effects of cannabis use on brain pathology associated with schizophrenia. In this study, we performed hippocampal shape analysis in cannabis-using and non-using patients with schizophrenia, healthy cannabis users and healthy non-using controls. Hippocampal shape changes were observed in each group relative to controls, with the greatest degree of alterations (i.e., deflations across the hippocampus, and with an anterior predisposition), in cannabis-using schizophrenia patients. These alterations were associated with cannabis use patterns and psychotic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. nadia@uow.edu.au
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solowij
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walterfang
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Styner
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velakoulis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pantelis
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yücel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic