Structural brain abnormalities in early-onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Few studies investigated brain abnormalities in early onset schizophrenia. To assess computed tomography (CT) abnormalities in patients with childhood or adolescence onset schizophrenia. CT scans of patients with childhood (6 to 11 years old) (N=6) or adolescence (12-17 years old) (N=9) schizophrenia were compared to normal controls. Patients were diagnosed based on the DSM-III-R criteria. Ventricular enlargement was measured by the Ventricle to Brain Ratio (VBR) and Cortical Atrophy (pre-frontal prominence) was measured by the Pre-Frontal Atrophy Index (PFAI). There was a significant difference in VBR, but not in PFAI, between subjects and controls [8.26+/-2.79, and 5.71+/-3.26 (p=0.029)], and [2.72+/-1.77, and 3.21+/-1.53 (p=0.424)], respectively. There were no differences of VBR and PFAI between children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Compared to controls, patients with child or adolescent onset schizophrenia exhibit more pronounced ventricular enlargement. There were no differences regarding prefrontal atrophy.