Multimodal voxel-based meta-analysis of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in those at elevated genetic risk of developing schizophrenia.
Computational brain-imaging studies of individuals at familial high risk for psychosis have provided interesting results, but interpreting these findings can be a challenge due to a number of factors. We searched the literature for studies reporting whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings in people at familial high risk for schizophrenia compared with a control group. A voxel-wise meta-analysis with the effect-size version of Signed Differential Mapping (ES-SDM) identified regional abnormalities of functional brain response. Similarly, an ES-SDM meta-analysis was conducted on VBM studies. A multi-modal imaging meta-analysis was used to highlight brain regions with both structural and functional abnormalities. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, in which a total of 815 familial high-risk individuals were compared to 685 controls. Our fMRI results revealed a number of regions of altered activation. VBM findings demonstrated both increases and decreases in grey matter density of relatives in a variety of brain regions. The multimodal analysis revealed relatives had decreased grey matter with hyper-activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus/amygdala, and decreased grey matter with hypo-activation in the thalamus. We found several regions of altered activation or structure in familial high-risk individuals. Reliable fMRI findings in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus further confirm that alteration in this area is a potential marker of risk.
Division of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Kennedy Tower, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK. Electronic address: deborah.cooper@luht.scot.nhs.uk.
Deborah
D
Cooper
Division of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Kennedy Tower, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK.
Victoria
V
Barker
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK; FIDMAG Research Unit, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Joaquim
J
Radua
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Paolo
P
Fusar-Poli
Division of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Kennedy Tower, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK.
Stephen M
SM
Lawrie
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology
Functional MRI; Genetic; Multimodal; Relatives; Schizophrenia; Voxel based morphometry