Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness changes in Schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of case–control studies. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Junru; Zhou, Yuanyuan; Xiang, Yi; Yu, Jiguo
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 270(2018)
• Page Start: 786
• Page End: 791
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Case–control study -- Meta-analysis -- Optical coherence tomography -- Retinal nerve fiber layer -- Schizophrenia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.10.075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Average RNFL thickness in schizophrenia patients was significantly reduced. OCT is currently often applied to evaluate progressive thinning of RNFL. RNFL thinning in schizophrenia patients could be an effect of neurodegeneration. OCT may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Abstract: Studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in subjects with schizophrenia and healthy controls have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to compare changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in schizophrenia and healthy controls via a meta-analysis. Relevant studies were selected via an electronic search of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Pubmed, and Embase. All included studies measured average and 4-quadrant (temporal, superior, nasal, and inferior) retinal nerve fiber layer thickness via OCT. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Seven case–control studies involving collective totals of 245 eyes in patients with schizophrenia and 220 eyes in healthy controls were ultimately included in this meta-analysis. Statistical analysis revealed that average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with schizophrenia was significantly reduced compared to that of healthy controls. Additionally, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the inferior quadrant, nasal quadrant, and temporal quadrant differed significantly between the two groups, while differences in the superior quadrant did not. In view of these results, we suggest that peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by OCT may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of schizophrenia.