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Reduced cerebral volume in schizophrenia
Schizophrenia Elsevier
Research,
17
3 (1990) 17-22
1II.A. III. BRAIN MORPHOLOGY
(MRI STUDIES)
-
A. Introduction
CAN A NEURODEVELOPMENTAL FRAMEWORK FOR HETEROGENEITY IN SCHIZOPHRENIA?
PROVIDE
AN EXPLANATION
RM Murray, SW Lewis, A Foerster and P Jones The Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark
Hill, London SE5, U.K.
Both molecular and epidemiological genetic studies of schizophrenia are pre-occupied by the adult clinical phenotype. They ignore the growing information from neuroimaging and neuropathological studies which implicate developmental anomalies of the temporal and particularly the hippocampus. Furthermore, few genetic hypothesis take account of the evidence that some, but not all schizophrenics, were abnormal as children. This paper will therefore, review data from our recent studies to relate genetic and environmental factors to what is known of abnormal neurodevelopment in schizophrenia, to the premorbid abnormalities shown by a proportion of schizophrenics. and to the varying clinical picture shown by adult schizophrenics. It will also show how a subclassification of schizophrenia according to the timing of ‘the lesion’ can provide a unifying framework for etiological and clinical heterogeneity.
1II.B. III.BRAIN MORPHOLOGY
REDUCED
CEREBRAL
(MRI STUDIES)
VOLUME
- B.
Total volume
IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
HA Nasrallah, JA Coffman, SB Schwarzkopf and SC Olson Department of Psychiatv, The Ohio State University, 071 Upham Hall. 473 W. I2th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, U.S.A. INTRODUCTION: Recent volumetric studies by MRI have suggested that relative reductions in tissue volume are present in the temporal lobes of schizophrenics compared to well siblings (DeLisi et al., 1988; Suddath et al., 1989). Despite evidence of reduced brain area on CT (Johnstone et al., 1989) and MRI (Andreasen et al.. 1986) no overall volume difference has yet been found (Kelsoe et al., 1988). This study examines the volume of cerebral structures in schizophrenics compared with matched volunteer controls. METHODS: Volumes of cerebral structures (left and right cerebral hemispheres, left and right anterior temporal lobes, left, right and third ventricles) were calculated by direct post-processing of digital MRI slice data using a SUN/PIXAR image processing workstation and volumetric accumulation. Scans for this preliminary analysis constituted a random subsample of subjects, 20 schizophrenics (11 male) and 20 normal controls (11 male) whose MRI had been obtained using a Tl-weighted pulse sequence. RESULTS: Analysis of cerebral volumes by 2-way ANCOVA (controlling for height) revealed a significant sex by diagnosis interaction in total cerebral volume (F = 4.48, P = 0.04) a significant main effect for diagnosis (F = 8.84, P = -0.006), and a significant main effect for sex (F= 8.70, P = 0.006). Mean cerebral volumes were: 1238_t65 ml for male controls, 1205 f 105 ml for male schizophrenics. 1133 _t 111 for female controls, and 981+ 43 ml for female schizophrenics. Head circumference also was significantly smaller among schizophrenics. No main effects for anterior temporal lobe volumes were found. DISCUSSION: These results suggest diminution of cerebral volume in schizophrenia, particularly among females. Reduction in anterior temporal lobe volume which has been reported in some studies was not confirmed. 0920-9964/90/$03.50
0 1990 Elsevier Science Publishers
B.V. (Biomedical
Division)
Research,
17
3 (1990) 17-22
1II.A. III. BRAIN MORPHOLOGY
(MRI STUDIES)
-
A. Introduction
CAN A NEURODEVELOPMENTAL FRAMEWORK FOR HETEROGENEITY IN SCHIZOPHRENIA?
PROVIDE
AN EXPLANATION
RM Murray, SW Lewis, A Foerster and P Jones The Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark
Hill, London SE5, U.K.
Both molecular and epidemiological genetic studies of schizophrenia are pre-occupied by the adult clinical phenotype. They ignore the growing information from neuroimaging and neuropathological studies which implicate developmental anomalies of the temporal and particularly the hippocampus. Furthermore, few genetic hypothesis take account of the evidence that some, but not all schizophrenics, were abnormal as children. This paper will therefore, review data from our recent studies to relate genetic and environmental factors to what is known of abnormal neurodevelopment in schizophrenia, to the premorbid abnormalities shown by a proportion of schizophrenics. and to the varying clinical picture shown by adult schizophrenics. It will also show how a subclassification of schizophrenia according to the timing of ‘the lesion’ can provide a unifying framework for etiological and clinical heterogeneity.
1II.B. III.BRAIN MORPHOLOGY
REDUCED
CEREBRAL
(MRI STUDIES)
VOLUME
- B.
Total volume
IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
HA Nasrallah, JA Coffman, SB Schwarzkopf and SC Olson Department of Psychiatv, The Ohio State University, 071 Upham Hall. 473 W. I2th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, U.S.A. INTRODUCTION: Recent volumetric studies by MRI have suggested that relative reductions in tissue volume are present in the temporal lobes of schizophrenics compared to well siblings (DeLisi et al., 1988; Suddath et al., 1989). Despite evidence of reduced brain area on CT (Johnstone et al., 1989) and MRI (Andreasen et al.. 1986) no overall volume difference has yet been found (Kelsoe et al., 1988). This study examines the volume of cerebral structures in schizophrenics compared with matched volunteer controls. METHODS: Volumes of cerebral structures (left and right cerebral hemispheres, left and right anterior temporal lobes, left, right and third ventricles) were calculated by direct post-processing of digital MRI slice data using a SUN/PIXAR image processing workstation and volumetric accumulation. Scans for this preliminary analysis constituted a random subsample of subjects, 20 schizophrenics (11 male) and 20 normal controls (11 male) whose MRI had been obtained using a Tl-weighted pulse sequence. RESULTS: Analysis of cerebral volumes by 2-way ANCOVA (controlling for height) revealed a significant sex by diagnosis interaction in total cerebral volume (F = 4.48, P = 0.04) a significant main effect for diagnosis (F = 8.84, P = -0.006), and a significant main effect for sex (F= 8.70, P = 0.006). Mean cerebral volumes were: 1238_t65 ml for male controls, 1205 f 105 ml for male schizophrenics. 1133 _t 111 for female controls, and 981+ 43 ml for female schizophrenics. Head circumference also was significantly smaller among schizophrenics. No main effects for anterior temporal lobe volumes were found. DISCUSSION: These results suggest diminution of cerebral volume in schizophrenia, particularly among females. Reduction in anterior temporal lobe volume which has been reported in some studies was not confirmed. 0920-9964/90/$03.50
0 1990 Elsevier Science Publishers
B.V. (Biomedical
Division)