Delusional symptoms associated with enlarged cerebral ventricles in depressed patients

Computerized tomograms (CT scans) were completed on 75 melancholic depressed patients. Enlarged lateral cerebral ventricles were noted in eight of 36 delusional depressives (22%) in contrast to one of 39 nondelusional depressives (3%) (P less than .005). There were no demographic or clinical differences between patients with enlarged ventricles and those with normal ventricular size. The group of delusional patients had significantly lower verbal and performance scores on the Wechsler scales than did nondelusional patients (P less than .01), but this difference was not related to ventricular enlargement in the delusional group. The possible clinical relevance of enlarged cerebral ventricles is discussed.