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Surface areas of the septum pellucidum, corpus callosum and the brain were measured from mid-saggital slices obtained with magnetic resonance imaging in 18 patients with schizophrenia and an equal number of normal volunteers. The patients showed larger septa and septo-brain ratios. These indices correlated with age in both patients and controls. In the patients, septal area also correlated with duration of illness. Changes in the septum pellucidum were unrelated to the intensity of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The patients had significantly longer corpora callosa, but the two groups did not differ on its size or the ratio between the latter and the mid-saggital slice area. Dimensions of the corpus callosum did not correlate with age, duration of the illness or positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The anteroposterior elongation of the structure seemed to accompany enlargement of the septum pellucidum.

Two paranoid schizophrenic young men murdered their mother and father while acutely delusional. To delineate the characteristics of homicidal, particularly parricidal patients, these two patients are compared with one parricidal and six homicidal patients. Preliminary warning signs, the contributory role of family life to the psychopathology, and the occurrence of parricide in schizophrenia are discussed.

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