Usefulness of Optical Coherence Tomography Measures as Biomarkers in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique recently used to investigate neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis. Over the last years it has been used in schizophrenia research due to the potential utility of its measurements as biomarkers of the disease. From the first publication by Ascaso et al. (Eur J Psychiat. 2010) until now, a number of papers have been published regarding this topic. Although the majority of them have found a reduction in the thickness or the volume of some retinal and optic nerve structures, there have also been some results with contradictory data. These could be due on the one hand to methodological factors such as the use of different OCT devices or the inclusion/ exclusion criteria. On the other hand, there could be an important limitation due to the fact that the different stages of the disorder and their different neurobiological correlates and biomarkers were not taken into consideration. Future longitudinal studies, that begin the assessments in the first psychotic episode (or even before, in ultra-high risk population) are needed in order to clarify the potential role of some OCT measures as biomarkers in schizophrenia.