Retinal single-layer analysis with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in schizophrenia spectrum disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) is associated with brain volume reductions, suggesting a potential neurodegenerative component.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging technique for detecting neurodegenerative changes in the retina, offering a potential window into brain structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether structural changes observed in the brain of SSD patients are also detectable in their retinas using OCT.
• To explore the potential of OCT as a tool for understanding the neurodegenerative aspects of SSD.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 23 healthy controls underwent OCT imaging.
• A single-layer analysis of retinal structures was performed, with manual correction for segmentation accuracy.

Main Results:

• SSD patients exhibited reduced thickness and volume in most retinal layers compared to controls.
• Significant differences were found in macular volume, macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and inner nucleiform layer (INL).
• A correlation was observed between illness duration and total RNFL volume in SSD patients.

Conclusions:

• OCT measurements confirm reduced retinal layer thickness in SSD patients.
• These findings support the hypothesis that brain structural alterations in SSD are mirrored in the retina.
• OCT may provide valuable insights into the complex neurobiological underpinnings of SSD.