title: Corpus callosum morphology in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia: combined magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging study of Chinese Singaporean patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abnormalities in the corpus callosum have been reported in patients with schizophrenia for over 30 years but the influence of inter-individual differences and illness characteristics remains to be fully elucidated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of individual and illness characteristics on the corpus callosum in Chinese Singaporean patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging, mean corpus callosum area, volume and fractional anisotropy were investigated in 120 Chinese Singaporean patients (52 with chronic and 68 with first-episode schizophrenia) and compared with data from 75 matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both area and volume were significantly reduced in patients relative to controls but no significant differences in corpus callosum existed between genders in either patients or controls. Differences in area and volume of the corpus callosum were greatest in patients whose condition was chronic relative to patients with a first episode and controls. Anterior callosum in patients, regardless of chronicity, was no different to that of controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphological abnormalities in the corpus callosum may increase with illness progression.
authors.affiliation: Simon L. Collinson, DPhil, Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore and Research Division, Woodbridge Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Singapore; Swu Chyi Gan, MSocSci, Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Puay San Woon, BSc, Carissa Kuswanto, MSc, Min Yi Sum, BA, Research Division, Woodbridge Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Singapore; Guo Liang Yang, PhD, Ji Min Lui, PhD, Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; Yih Yian Sitoh, Department of Neuroradiology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; Wieslaw L. Nowinski, DSc, PhD, Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; Kang Sim, MBBS, MMed, FAMS, Research Division and Department of General Psychiatry, Woodbridge Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Collinson
authors.forename: Swu Chyi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Puay San
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuswanto
authors.forename: Min Yi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: Guo Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Yih Yian
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sitoh
authors.forename: Wieslaw L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nowinski
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012846:Singapore; D013997:Time Factors