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Third ventricle size and dementia in schizophrenia
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|September 1, 1985
Summary
Schizophrenia patients, particularly those with chronic illness, showed wider third ventricles compared to healthy individuals. However, third ventricle size did not correlate with cognitive impairment, suggesting it is not integral to schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Enlargement of brain ventricles, particularly the third ventricle, has been observed in some individuals with schizophrenia.
- The clinical significance and relationship of third ventricle width to disease progression and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between third ventricle width and schizophrenia.
- To determine if third ventricle size correlates with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasound imaging was used to measure the third ventricle width in normal subjects, chronically ill schizophrenic patients, and acutely ill schizophrenic patients.
- Neuropsychological tests were administered to assess cognitive function in all patient groups.
Main Results:
- Chronically ill schizophrenic patients exhibited significantly wider third ventricles compared to normal subjects and acutely ill patients (p < 0.5).
- Despite wider ventricles in chronic patients, only 14% exceeded the normal maximum width of 8 mm.
- Neuropsychological tests revealed organic brain impairment in both chronic and acutely ill patients, but no significant difference was found between chronic patients with large versus normal-sized ventricles.
Conclusions:
- Third ventricle enlargement is not a universal finding in chronic schizophrenia and may not be directly linked to the disease process.
- Third ventricle size does not appear to be related to the degree of cognitive impairment or dementia observed in schizophrenia.