Hippocampal Subfield and Amygdala Nuclei Volumes in Schizophrenia Patients With a History of Violence

Natalia Tesli,Dennis Van Der Meer,Jaroslav Rokicki,Guttorm Storvestre,Cato Røsæg,Arvid Jensen,Gabriela Hjell,Christina Bell,Thomas Fisher-Vieler,Martin Tesli,Ole Andreassen,Ingrid Melle,Ingrid Agartz,Unn Haukvik

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.02.477

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is associated with an increased risk of violence compared to the general population. Previous studies have indicated smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in violent than non-violent psychotic patients. However, little is known about volumetric differences at the subdivision level of these structures.

Highlights

Violence in persons with schizophrenia (SCZ) constitutes a significant public health concern and contributes to the major stigma associated with mental illness
All statistical analyses of volumetric MRI data were performed with R. 12 hippocampal subfields and 9 nuclei of the amygdala were included in the subsequent analyses
We found that CA1 (p = 0.009, d = − 0.712), hippocampal–amygdaloid transition area (HATA) (p = 0.009, d = − 0.803), fimbria (p = 0.009, d = − 0.711), and molecular layer (p = 0.025, d = − 0.635) were significantly smaller, whereas hippocampal fissure (p = 0.009, d = 0.793) was significantly larger in SCZ patients with a history of violence (SCZ-V) compared to healthy controls (HC)

Summary

Introduction

Violence in persons with schizophrenia (SCZ) constitutes a significant public health concern and contributes to the major stigma associated with mental illness. Epidemiological studies indicate that SCZ patients are at an increased risk of committing violent acts compared to the general population [1,2,3,4]. A large population-based study from Sweden estimated that one of ten male SCZ patients will be convicted for a violent offence within 5 years from the initial diagnosis [5]. Aggression and violence in SCZ are associated with different, though phenomenologically correlated factors including low socio-economic status, substance abuse and other psychopathological comorbidities [6]. Violent behavior in SCZ has been associated with exacerbating delusions during the states of acute psychosis [8, 9]. Bearing in mind the complexity of violence in SCZ, mapping its neurobiological signature represents an indispensable step towards improvement in therapeutic strategies and preventive measures

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion