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Related Experiment Videos

Reduced gray matter volume in schizophrenia.

R E Gur1, B I Turetsky, W B Bilker

  • 1Schizophrenia Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA. raquel@bbl.psycha.upenn.edu

Archives of General Psychiatry
|October 26, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Gray matter (GM) volume is reduced in schizophrenia patients at first presentation, particularly in men. This reduction correlates with cognitive performance but not symptom severity, suggesting neurodevelopmental links.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Emerging evidence suggests gray matter (GM) reduction in schizophrenia patients.
  • Understanding global GM differences is crucial for interpreting regional effects.
  • The relationship between GM reduction, clinical status, and neurocognition needs examination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate global gray matter volume differences in schizophrenia patients compared to controls.
  • To examine the association of GM reduction with clinical symptoms and neurocognitive performance.
  • To explore sex differences in GM volume and its correlates.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain structure.
  • Neurocognitive measures and clinical assessments were administered to 130 patients and 130 controls.

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  • Participants included neuroleptic-naive and previously treated patients, with matched controls.

    • Main Results:

    • Patients with schizophrenia showed reduced overall GM volume compared to controls (men: 6% reduction; women: 2% reduction).
    • GM reduction was evident even in neuroleptic-naive patients and persisted after controlling for age and total intracranial volume.
    • GM volume correlated with cognitive performance across 6 domains and premorbid functioning in women, but not with symptom severity.

    Conclusions:

    • Gray matter volume reduction in schizophrenia is present at initial presentation in both sexes.
    • The findings suggest that GM deficits are linked to cognitive impairments rather than symptom severity.
    • Results support a neurodevelopmental hypothesis for gray matter deficits in schizophrenia.