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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse
Published on: May 19, 2015
Progressive lateral ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of longitudinal MRI studies
Matthew J Kempton1, Daniel Stahl, Steven C R Williams
1Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. matthew.kempton@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Background:
Lateral ventricular enlargement is one of the most consistent findings in patients with schizophrenia; however whether progressive ventricular dilation occurs during the course of the illness has been controversial. To clarify this we conducted a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies measuring the lateral ventricles in patients with schizophrenia and a control group.
Methods:
The MEDLINE database was searched from 1980 to 2009 for longitudinal MRI studies of patients with schizophrenia. We identified 13 studies that measured the lateral ventricles in both patients and controls and these were included in a random effects meta-analysis. The effect of various clinical variables was investigated in a meta-regression analysis.
Results:
Patients showed evidence of progressive ventricular enlargement after illness onset greater than that seen in controls (effect size=0.45, 95%CI 0.19-0.71, p=0.0006). A sub-analysis of chronic patients with schizophrenia with a mean duration of illness of 7.6 years at baseline scan also showed progressive ventricular enlargement (p=0.002). The results were robust to inclusion criteria, and no significant effect of age of onset, duration of illness, or age at baseline scan, was found in the meta-regression analysis.
Conclusions:
The meta-analysis shows progressive changes in ventricular volume a number of years after illness onset and challenges an exclusively neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.
Insights
This meta-analysis confirms progressive lateral ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia patients after illness onset. These findings suggest ongoing pathological changes beyond initial neurodevelopmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Lateral ventricular enlargement is a consistent finding in schizophrenia.
- The progression of this enlargement during the illness course has been debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify whether progressive ventricular dilation occurs in schizophrenia.
- To conduct a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on lateral ventricle size in schizophrenia patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- Searched MEDLINE (1980-2009) for longitudinal MRI studies of schizophrenia.
- Included 13 studies in a random effects meta-analysis.
- Performed meta-regression to investigate clinical variable effects.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited progressive ventricular enlargement compared to controls (effect size=0.45, p=0.0006).
- Chronic patients (mean illness duration 7.6 years) also showed significant progressive enlargement (p=0.002).
- No significant effect of age of onset, illness duration, or baseline age was found.
Conclusions:
- The meta-analysis demonstrates progressive ventricular volume changes years after schizophrenia onset.
- These findings challenge a purely neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, indicating ongoing disease processes.
