Reduced Gray Matter Volume in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: There is emerging evidence that gray matter (GM) is reduced in patients with schizophrenia. Information on the extent of global differences in the 3 principal supertentorial compartments is necessary for interpretation of regional effects. The relation of GM reduction to clinical status and neurocognition also requires examination.

Computerized Neurocognitive Scanning: II. The Profile of Schizophrenia

“…The lack of difference in over-all severity and pattern of neurocognitive profile between neuroleptic naive and previously treated patients confirms earlier reports (Bilder et al 1992;Gur et al 1998Gur et al , 1999bHoff et al 1991;Saykin et al 1994). This indicates that diffuse and significant cognitive deficits are evident at first clinical presentation before initiation of treatment.…”

Neocortical Gray Matter Volume in First-Episode Schizophrenia and First-Episode Affective Psychosis: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal MRI Study

“…To our knowledge, no previous study has prospectively evaluated the total volume of NCGM in isolation from the remaining cerebrum and subcortical region in either patient group, nor has research directly compared FESZ with FEAFF, although previous reports of supratentorial total GM volume deficit in SZ (17)(18)(19)(20) are compatible. Both FESZ and FEAFF showed reduced NCGM at first hospitalization, although our own and others' studies suggest a regionally specific pattern of NCGM deficits in SZ not shared by AFF (3).…”

“…In affective psychosis, manual ROI (12) and VBM (13,14) studies indicate deficits in frontal neocortex and limbic regions, although findings are inconsistent (15,16). Automated tissue segmentation of whole brain revealed smaller overall volume of supratentorial GM, including subcortical GM, in schizophrenia (17)(18)(19)(20).…”

A comprehensive assessment of gray and white matter volumes and their relationship to outcome and severity in schizophrenia

“…This is primarily related to difficulties with its parcellation, given a lack of consensual anatomical landmarks or wholebrain partition schemes. Not surprisingly, findings thus far have been overall inconclusive, with reports of reductions (Cannon et al, 1998;Wright et al, 2000;Okugawa et al, 2002;Antonova et al, 2005) or no intergroup differences (Lim et al, 1998;Gur et al, 1999;HulshoffPol et al, 2002;Marcelis et al, 2003;Bassitt et al, 2006) for global white matter volumes and regional decreases in some (Breier et al, 1992;Buchanan et al, 1998;Paillere-Martinot et al, 2001;Sigmudsson et al, 2001;Okugawa et al, 2002;Maric et al, 2003;Riffkin et al, 2005;Price et al, 2006) but not other (Suddath et al, 1990;Wibble et al, 1995;Baare et al, 1999;Staal et al, 2000;Matsumoto et al, 2001;Yamasue et al, 2004) publications. Increased volumes in schizophrenia have been reported for whole-brain white matter (Lim et al, 1996), as well as for the parietal and occipital lobes (Zipursky et al, 1992;Lim et al, 1996;Highley et al, 2003), posterior superior temporal gyri (Taylor et al, 2005), and cerebellar vermis (Lee et al, 2006) in both hemispheres, with greater increases in cerebral white matter volume over the first year of follow-up predictive of higher PANSS positive syndrome subscale score at 5-year follow-up (Cahn et al, 2006).…”