Background
Considering the magnitude of the reported changes in brain volume over time in first-episode
patients it is unlikely that these changes are constant over the life-span of the
schizophrenic illness. Thus, one would expect the progression in brain volume change
in schizophrenia to follow a more complex trajectory over time.
Methods
Two magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were obtained over a 5-year interval of
96 schizophrenia patients and 113 healthy subjects between ages 16 to 56.
Results
The trajectory of brain volume change differed between patients with schizophrenia
and healthy individuals. Before the age of 45 years cerebral and gray matter loss
and lateral ventricle increase were excessive in patients relative to controls, representing
approximately the first 20 years of illness. Patients showed an excessive third ventricle
volume increase over time. In addition, poor outcome patients showed more brain tissue
loss during the follow-up interval than good outcome patients.
Conclusions
Cerebral (gray) matter volume loss in the patients was mainly characterized by the
absence of the normal curved trajectory of volume change with age that was present
in healthy subjects. Later in life, the degree of volume change in patients is similar
to that observed with normal aging. Independently of age, larger brain volume changes
appear clinically relevant.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 30, 2007
Accepted:
January 8,
2007
Received in revised form:
December 23,
2006
Received:
October 26,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
