Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
07:30
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Insular cortex thinning in first episode schizophrenia patients
Roberto Roiz-Santiáñez1, Rocío Pérez-Iglesias, Carlos Quintero
1University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
Psychiatry Research
|May 22, 2010
Summary
First episode schizophrenia patients show significant right insular cortex thinning. Male patients also exhibit left insular thinning, suggesting these brain changes may serve as early biological markers for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Cortical thinning is a known feature in schizophrenia.
- Structural abnormalities in the insular cortex are documented in schizophrenia patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate insular thickness anomalies in individuals experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia.
- To determine if insular thinning is an early indicator of schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans (1.5T) for 118 schizophrenia patients and 83 healthy controls.
- Analyzed brain images using BRAINS2 software.
- Controlled for sociodemographic, cognitive, and clinical variables.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited significant thinning in the right insular cortex.
- A significant group by gender interaction was observed for left insular thickness.
- Male schizophrenia patients showed significant left insular thinning compared to healthy males.
Conclusions:
- Insular thinning is present in the early stages of schizophrenia.
- These findings suggest insular thickness changes could be a biological marker for schizophrenia.
- The observed thinning is independent of symptom severity, cognitive function, and premorbid factors.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:30Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...