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CT scanning and schizophrenia: a review.
Psychiatric Developments
|January 1, 1983
Summary
This study reviews CT scan quantification methods, finding that while enlarged ventricles in schizophrenia are not diagnostic, they offer insights into disease theories. Other brain changes like sulcal enlargement are also discussed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Current methods for quantifying computed tomography (CT) scans are evaluated.
- The benefits and limitations of linear and area measurements in CT analysis are compared.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine evidence for ventricular enlargement in a subgroup of schizophrenia patients.
- To assess the utility of ventricular enlargement in understanding schizophrenia pathogenesis.
- To consider other neuroanatomical differences in schizophrenia, including sulcal enlargement, brain density, and cerebral asymmetry.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing CT quantification techniques.
- Comparative analysis of linear and area measurement methods.
- Examination of studies reporting ventricular size in schizophrenia.
Main Results:
- Ventricular enlargement in a subgroup of schizophrenia patients is supported by evidence.
- This finding is not considered diagnostically useful for individual patients.
- Enlarged ventricles are relevant for developing theories on the causes of schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Ventricular enlargement is a significant finding in schizophrenia research, aiding etiological theories.
- Further consideration of sulcal enlargement, brain density, and cerebral asymmetry is warranted in schizophrenia.
- CT quantification methods and their interpretation are crucial for advancing our understanding of brain disorders.