Left hemispheric density deficits in chronic schizophrenia

Regional determinations of mean cerebral tissue density were made for 50 chronic schizophrenics and compared with results in 24 normal controls. When values for corresponding left and right hemispheric regions were compared, 11 of 12 comparisons showed the left regional value to be significantly greater than the right for controls while only 6 of 12 comparisons among schizophrenics showed left values significantly greater than right. These data suggest an overall decreased relative density of the left cerebral hemisphere in schizophrenia. Further implications of the data are discussed.