title: Schizophrenia severity, social functioning and hippocampal neuroanatomy: three-dimensional mapping study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hippocampal shrinkage is commonly reported in schizophrenia, but its role in the illness is still poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how clinical and psychosocial variables relate to hippocampal volumes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate neuroanatomic differences in the hippocampus using three-dimensional (3D) computational image analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and surface-based modelling to map the 3D profile of hippocampal differences in adults with schizophrenia (n = 67) and a healthy control group (n = 72). Manual tracings were used to create 3D parametric mesh models of the hippocampus. Regression models were used to relate diagnostic measures to maps of radial distance, and colour-coded maps were generated to show the profile of associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no detectable difference between the schizophrenia and control groups in hippocampal radial distance. In the schizophrenia group, however, bilateral shape deflation was associated with greater illness severity (length of illness, positive and negative symptoms) and with poorer social functioning (educational level, quality of life and health status), which survived Bonferroni correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Illness severity and poor social functioning may be associated with hippocampal deflation in schizophrenia. As a structural sign of poor outcome, imaging measures might help to identify a subgroup of patients who may need specific treatment to resist hippocampal shrinkage, such as cognitive rehabilitation or physical exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Sciences (DISM), InterUniversity Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. paolo.brambilla@uniud.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perlini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saharan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rambaldelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dusi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pozzi Mucelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tansella
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index