title: Pituitary gland volume in at-risk mental state for psychosis: a longitudinal MRI analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pituitary enlargement has been reported in individuals with schizophrenic psychosis or an at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS). In a previous study, our group could show pituitary volume increase in first episode and ARMS patients with later transition to psychosis (ARMS-T). However, there are no longitudinal studies on this issue so far. We therefore examined longitudinally whether transition to psychosis would be accompanied by a further increase of pituitary volume in antipsychotic-naïve ARMS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired from 23 antipsychotic-naïve individuals with an ARMS. Ten subjects developed psychosis (ARMS-T) and 13 did not (ARMS-NT). ARMS-T were re-scanned after the onset of psychosis, and ARMS-NT were re-scanned at the end of the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference of the pituitary volume between ARMS-T and ARMS-NT in our sample, and there were no significant pituitary volume changes over time. Discussion Longitudinally, we could not detect any further volumetric changes in the pituitary volume with transition to psychosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This, together with the result of our previous study, could indicate that the perceived level of stress in ARMS patients is constantly high from very early onward.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Basel,Department of Psychiatry,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: 2University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics,Center for Gender Research and Early Detection,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Studerus
authors.affiliation: 1University of Basel,Department of Psychiatry,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smieskova
authors.affiliation: 2University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics,Center for Gender Research and Early Detection,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamagni
authors.affiliation: 2University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics,Center for Gender Research and Early Detection,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.affiliation: 1University of Basel,Department of Psychiatry,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.affiliation: 2University of Basel Psychiatric Clinics,Center for Gender Research and Early Detection,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riecher-Rössler
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: stress