Hippocampal Volume in First-Episode Psychoses and Chronic Schizophrenia

Abstract

These data show that smaller hippocampal volumes are present from the onset of illness. While these findings would support the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, the finding of smaller left hippocampal volume in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and affective psychosis does not support the prediction that smaller hippocampi are specific to schizophrenia. The association of smaller right hippocampal volumes with increased illness duration in chronic schizophrenia suggests either that there is further neurodegeneration after illness onset or that bilateral small hippocampi predict chronicity.

A review of MRI findings in schizophrenia

“…However, in our review of 49 MRI studies, we note a large number of studies that demonstrate left-lateralized findings for the amygdala-hippocampal complex, particularly in male patients (e.g. Barta et al, 1990Barta et al, , 1997aBogerts et al, 1990Bogerts et al, , 1993bBreier et al, 1992;DeLisi et al, 1988;Hirayasu et al, 1998;Kawasaki et al, 1993-parahippocampal gyrus only;McNeil et al, 2000;Ohnuma et al, 1997;Razi et al, 1999;Rossi et al, 1994a;Shenton et al, 1992;Stefanis et al, 1999;Velakoulis et al, 1999;Woodruff et al, 1997b).…”

“…Volume reductions in the amygdala-hippocampal complex are also evident in first episode patients with schizophrenia (e.g. Bogerts et al, 1990;Copolov et al, 2000;Hirayasu et al, 1998;Lawrie et al, 1999;Velakoulis et al, 1999). The specificity of these findings to schizophrenia are, however, more equivocal as reduced amygdalahippocampal complex, particularly posteriorly, has been reported to be abnormal in first psychotic episode bipolar patients (e.g.…”

“…The specificity of these findings to schizophrenia are, however, more equivocal as reduced amygdalahippocampal complex, particularly posteriorly, has been reported to be abnormal in first psychotic episode bipolar patients (e.g. Hirayasu et al, 1998;Velakoulis et al, 1999), in chronic mood disordered patients (e.g. Altshuler et al, 1998;Drevets et al, 1992;Mayberg, 1993; see also reviews of MR studies in affective disorder by Norris et al, 1997;Steffens and Krishnan, 1998;Soares and Mann, 1997), in normal elderly persons (e.g.…”

Alteration to hippocampal shape in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia

“…We have previously reported doserelated reductions in hippocampal volume in otherwise healthy chronic cannabis users that were associated with subclinical positive psychotic symptoms (Yücel et al, 2008), and were of a magnitude similar to that observed in schizophrenia (e.g. Velakoulis et al, 1999). A key question is whether effects associated with comorbid chronic cannabis use and schizophrenia exceed those associated with either condition occurring in isolation.…”

“…Hippocampal volumes were measured using established protocols (Velakoulis et al, 1999) and delineated by a trained rater blind to group information (see Yücel et al, 2008). Left and right hippocampal volumes were compared between groups by ANOVA.…”