Brain morphology in first-episode schizophrenic-like psychotic patients: A quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study

  • Lynn E. DeLisi
  • , Anne L. Hoff
  • , Joseph E. Schwartz
  • , Gail W. Shields
  • , Srinivas N. Halthore
  • , Simhardi M. Gupta
  • , Fritz A. Henn
  • , Azad K. Anand

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

322 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain morphology was examined using magnetic resonance imaging in 30 first-episode patients with a schizophreniclike psychosis, 15 chronic schizophenics, and 20 neurological controls. Statistical analyses of computer-generated measurements of regions of interest were controlled for gender, age, social class, and total brain volume. Lateral ventricular size was increased in both first-episode and chronic schizophrenic patients, with greater significance on the left than on the right side. Only the chronic patients, however, had reduced temporal lobe size, which also was greater on the left side. No major correlations of regional brain morphological measurements with cognitive functioning were found, although some measurements of verbal memory were correlated with parahippocampal size. This is a report of a preliminary study that suggests that some morphological brain changes may be present at the time of first treatment for a psychotic illness, whereas others may occur later in the course of illness. Future prospective studies may determine the clinical significance of these changes and whether they progress with the development of illness chronicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-175
Number of pages17
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume29
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jan 1991
Externally publishedYes

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