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Brain changes in schizophrenia

Volumetric MRI study of families multiply affected with schizophrenia – the Maudsley Family Study 5

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Tonmoy Sharma ,
Eric Lancaster ,
David Lee ,
Shôn Lewis ,
Thordur Sigmundsson ,
Noriyoshi Takei ,
Hugh Gurling ,
Patrick E. Barta ,
Godfrey Pearlson  and
Robin M. Murray
Tonmoy Sharma*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Eric Lancaster
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
David Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Whittington Hospital, Manchester
Shôn Lewis
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Thordur Sigmundsson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Noriyoshi Takei
Affiliation:
Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University College London Medical School, London
Hugh Gurling
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
Patrick E. Barta
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Godfrey Pearlson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Robin M. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
*
Dr T. Sharma, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry. De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF. Tel. 0171-919-3342; Fax: 0171-740-5208; e-mail: t.sharma@iop.bpmf.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Structural brain abnormalities have been reported in schizophrenia. We tested the hypothesis that these abnormalities represented a marker for the genetic liability to schizophrenia in a sample of people with schizophrenia and their relatives from families multiply affected with the disorder.

Method

We compared 31 people with schizophrenia, 57 relatives and 39 unrelated control subjects. Volumetric measurement of brain structures was carried out using stereological principles from three-dimensional reconstructed magnetic resonance images.

Results

Subjects with schizophrenia had larger lateral ventricles than their relatives and the normal control subjects. Relatives who were ‘presumed obligate carriers' had larger left lateral ventricles than other relatives and the control subjects. Subjects with schizophrenia showed smaller whole brain and cerebellar volumes and larger lateral ventricles than their age–and gender-matched unaffected siblings.

Conclusions

In families multiply affected with schizophrenia lateral ventricular enlargement distinguishes people with schizophrenia and presumed obligate carriers from other relatives and unrelated control subjects. These changes may be a marker for a genetic liability to schizophrenia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 2 , August 1998 , pp. 132 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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