Ventricular volumes across stages of schizophrenia and other psychoses. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berger, Gregor E; Bartholomeusz, Cali F; Wood, Stephen J; Ang, Anthony; Phillips, Lisa J; Proffitt, Tina; Brewer, Warrick J; Smith, Deidre J; Nelson, Barnaby; Lin, Ashleigh; Borgwardt, Stefan; Velakoulis, Dennis; Yung, Alison R; McGorry, Patrick D; Pantelis, Christos
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. Volume 51:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1041
• Page End: 1051
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Ventricle -- first-episode psychosis -- ultra high-risk -- diagnosis -- neuroimaging; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Australia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/0004867417715914
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8674

Abstract

Objective: Ventricular enlargement is common in established schizophrenia; however, data from ultra high-risk for psychosis and first-episode psychosis studies are inconclusive. This study aims to investigate ventricular volumes at different stages of psychosis. Methods: Ventricular volumes were measured using a semi-automated and highly reliable method, for 89 established schizophrenia, 162 first-episode psychosis, 135 ultra high-risk for psychosis and 87 healthy controls using 1.5T magnetic resonance images. Clinical outcome diagnoses for ultra high-risk for psychosis were evaluated at long-term follow-up (mean: 7.5 years). Results: Compared to controls, we identified significant ventricular enlargement of 36.2% in established schizophrenia ( p < 0.001). Ventricular enlargement was not significant in first-episode psychosis (6%) or ultra high-risk for psychosis (−3%). Examination across stages of schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses subgroups revealed a significant linear trend ( p = 0.006; established schizophrenia = 36.2%, first-episode psychosis schizophrenia = 18.5%, first-episode psychosis schizophreniform = −4.2% and ultra high-risk for psychosis-schizophrenia converters = −18.5%). Conclusion: Ventricular enlargement is apparent in patients with established schizophrenia but is not a feature at the earliest stages of illness (ultra high-risk for psychosis and first-episode psychosis). Further research is needed to fully characterize the nature and timing of ventricular volume changes early in the course of illness and how these changes impact outcomes.