title: White matter structure in young adults with familial risk for psychosis - The Oulu Brain and Mind Study.
abstract: According to the disconnectivity model, disruptions in neural connectivity play an essential role in the pathology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine whether these abnormalities are present in young adults with familial risk (FR) for psychosis in the general population based sample. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics to compare whole-brain fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and axial and radial diffusion in 47 (17 males) FR subjects to 51 controls (17 males). All the participants were aged between 20 and 25 years and were members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (Oulu Brain and Mind Study). Region of interest analyses were conducted for 12 tracts. Separately, we analysed whole-brain FA for the subgroup with FR for schizophrenia (n=13) compared with 13 gender-matched controls. Contrary to our expectations there were no differences in any of the DTI measures between FR and control groups. This suggests that white matter abnormalities may not be a genetic feature for risk of psychosis and preceding the onset of a psychotic disorder. Our findings do not support the theory of disconnectivity as a primary sign of psychosis in young adults with FR for the illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Thule Doctoral Programme, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: jenni.koivukangas@oulu.fi.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koivukangas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Lassi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Björnholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tervonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miettunen
authors.affiliation: Thule Doctoral Programme, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiviniemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukkala
authors.affiliation: Thule Doctoral Programme, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; PEDEGO Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moilanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikkinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Thule Doctoral Programme, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veijola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011603:Psychophysiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Birth cohort; DTI; Risk for psychosis; TBSS