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Voxel-based morphometry of comorbid schizophrenia and learning disability: analyses in normalized and native spaces
T William J Moorhead1, Dominic E Job, Heather C Whalley
1Image Analysis Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, Scotland, UK. tmoorhea@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
Neuroimage
|April 28, 2004
Summary
Voxel-based morphometry reveals that patients with schizophrenia and comorbid learning disability share similar grey matter reductions, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia and learning disability are distinct conditions.
- Previous research suggests overlap between schizophrenia and comorbid learning disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate grey matter distribution differences in patients with schizophrenia, learning disability, and comorbid conditions.
- To replicate findings suggesting comorbid patients and schizophrenia patients belong to the same population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) on structural MRI scans.
- Compared grey matter distributions across four groups: comorbid, schizophrenia alone, learning disability alone, and controls.
- Employed both normalized and native space analyses.
Main Results:
- No significant grey matter differences between comorbid and schizophrenia groups.
- Both comorbid and schizophrenia groups showed significant grey matter reductions compared to controls.
- Reductions localized to prefrontal and temporal lobes; learning disability group showed increased grey matter in postcentral gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the view that comorbid learning disability with schizophrenia is a severe form of schizophrenia.
- Voxel-based morphometry is effective for comparing grey matter in diverse patient cohorts.