title: Microstructural white matter alterations in psychotic disorder: a family-based diffusion tensor imaging study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence for microstructural white matter alterations in patients with psychotic disorder, suggesting altered interregional connectivity. Less is known about the presence and role of white matter alterations in well individuals at higher than average genetic risk for psychotic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  85 patients with psychotic disorder, 93 non-psychotic siblings of patients with psychotic disorder and 80 healthy controls underwent a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scanning protocol. In a whole brain voxel-based analysis using Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS), fractional anisotropy (FA) values were compared between the three groups. Effects of antipsychotic medication and drug use were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients displayed significantly lower mean FA than the controls in the following regions: corpus callosum (genu, body, splenium), forceps major and minor, external capsule bilaterally, corona radiata (anterior, posterior) bilaterally, left superior corona radiata and posterior thalamic radiation bilaterally. Similar FA differences existed between the patients and siblings; the siblings did not differ from the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Profound microstructural white matter alterations were found in the corpus callosum and other tracti and fasciculi in the patients with psychotic disorder, but not in siblings and the controls. These alterations may reflect brain pathology associated with the illness, illness-related environmental risk factors, or its treatment, rather than genetic risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. p.domen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Patrick A E
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Domen
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michielse
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gronenschild
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Habets
authors.forename: Alard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roebroeck
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schruers
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: Machteld
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcelis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult