title: A longitudinal study of cortical changes and their cognitive correlates in patients followed up after first-episode psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loss of cortical volume in frontotemporal regions occurs in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and longitudinal studies have reported progressive brain volume changes at different stages of the disease, even if cognitive deficits remain stable over time. We investigated cortical changes in patients over the 2 years following their FEP and their associations with clinical and cognitive measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients after their FEP (20 with schizophrenia, seven with schizo-affective disorder) and 25 healthy controls matched for age and gender participated in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on a 1.5-T scanner both at baseline and after 2 years. Area and thickness of the cortex were measured using surface-based morphometry (SBM). Patients also underwent neuropsychological testing at these two time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progressive cortical thinning in the superior and inferior frontal and, to a lesser extent, superior temporal cortex was observed in patients. Cortical area remained constant. Cortical thinning was associated with duration of treatment at a trend level and was predicted by baseline measures of IQ and working memory. Cortical thinning occurred in the absence of clinical or cognitive deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical implications of these cortical changes remain uncertain, but patients with less cognitive reserve may be more vulnerable to developing cortical abnormalities when exposed to medication or other disease-related biological factors.
authors.affiliation: University College London,Queen Square, London,UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Galve
authors.affiliation: University College London,Queen Square, London,UK.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Faculty of Medicine,Charing Cross Campus, London,UK.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Leeson
authors.affiliation: University College London,Queen Square, London,UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Faculty of Medicine,Charing Cross Campus, London,UK.
authors.forename: T R E
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: University College London,Queen Square, London,UK.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.affiliation: University College London,Queen Square, London,UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008131:London; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents