Abstract
Background
Whole brain tissue volume decreases in schizophrenia have been related to both genetic
risk factors and disease-related (possibly nongenetic) factors; however, whether genetic
and environmental risk factors in the brains of patients with schizophrenia are differentially
reflected in gray or white matter volume change is not known.
Methods
Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) brain scans of 11 monozygotic and 11 same-gender
dizygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia were acquired and compared with
11 monozygotic and 11 same-gender dizygotic healthy control twin pairs.
Results
Repeated-measures volume analysis of covariance revealed decreased whole brain volume
in the patients with schizophrenia as compared with their co-twins and with healthy
twin pairs. Decreased white matter volume was found in discordant twin pairs compared
with healthy twin pairs, particularly in the monozygotic twin pairs. A decrease in
gray matter was found in the patients compared with their co-twins and compared with
the healthy twins.
Conclusions
The results suggest that the decreases in white matter volume reflect the increased
genetic risk to develop schizophrenia, whereas the decreases in gray matter volume
are related to environmental risk factors. Study of genes involved in the (maintenance)
of white matter structures may be particularly fruitful in schizophrenia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 10,
2003
Received in revised form:
July 8,
2003
Received:
April 2,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
