Normal ventricles in chronic schizophrenics

Shima, Satoru; Kanba, Shigenobu; Masuda, Yutaka; Tsukumo, Taizo; Kitamura, Toshinori

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1985.tb05047.x

Cited by 22 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…A failure to reject the nu1 hypothesis of no difference between groups is never proof that no difference exists. The mean VBR in our control groups was much greater than those in other studies; only Shima et al (17) reported quite similar VBR size. This discrepancy might have derived from measurement, but in this case both patients and controls were examined in a uniform manner.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Age and duration of illness as predictors of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) size in chronic schizophrenic patients

Rossi¹,

Stratta²,

Casacchia³

et al. 1987

Acta Psychiatr Scand

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The CT scans of 18 chronic schizophrenic patients and 17 controls were evaluated for Ventricular Brain Ratio (VBR) size. A trend for the patient group to have larger VBR than controls was present but did not reach statistical significance at the 5% level. Age was found to be an important correlate of VBR within the patient group but not among controls. In a stepwise multiple-regression model age, among other independent variables, can account for 47% of VBR variance in schizophrenic patients. Linear regression analysis did not reveal significant association between VBR and age in control subjects.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Age and duration of illness as predictors of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) size in chronic schizophrenic patients

Rossi¹,

Stratta²,

Casacchia³

et al. 1987

Acta Psychiatr Scand

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“…An approach to this study would be to apply metaanalysis techniques to the result of 17 studies which used planimetric methods (1, 9, 15-17, 19, 22, 34-38, 43-46, and ours). The studies that used the density method were excluded (20, [47][48][49]. We also left out Johnstone's study (2) because of its unusually high VBR, and Rieder's study (50) because he did not use controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computed tomography scans and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: chronic schizophrenics with negative symptoms and nonenlarged lateral ventricles

Serban

George

Siegel

et al. 1990

Acta Psychiatr Scand

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Computed tomography scans of 31 chronic schizophrenics with negative symptoms and 31 age-matched normal volunteers were assessed for ventricular size, cortical atrophies, third ventricle diameter, and cerebellar atrophies. No significant differences were found in the size of the lateral ventricles or third ventricles between the chronic schizophrenics and the controls. The frontal horns in patients did show a tendency toward increased size compared with controls. Sulci width showed significant differences between patients and controls. The clinical variables, except for the memory test, did not correlate with any brain morphology. A meta-analysis was performed on 17 studies that used the planimetric method in order to evaluate the relationships between the size of the lateral ventricles in patients and their respective controls. We found significant differences between the group of studies using normal controls and the group using medical controls.

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“…These have generally been unsuccessful in treating schizophrenia or have exacerbated symptoms. Interventions designed to decrease serotonergic activity, e.g., inhibition of 5HT synthesis with p-chlorophenylalanine (DeLisi et al 1982a) or fenfluramine, a 5HT releaser (Shore et al 1985), have also generally been ineffective.…”

Section: Serotonin and Schizophreniamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This research has been reviewed in depth elsewhere (Shelton and Weinberger 1986). Although at least five studies have not found enlarged ventricles in schizophrenics (Trimble and Kingsley 1978; Glück et al 1980; Benes et al 1982; Jernigan et al 1982; Shima et al 1985), consideration of all available evidence suggests that there is an excess proportion of schizophrenics with ventricular size outside normal limits (Shelton and Weinberger 1986). Variability of results may be due to measurement differences or differences in clinical populations and control groups.…”

Section: Structural Abnormalities: Neuropathology and Ct Scansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Studies in Schizophrenia

Meltzer

1987

Schizophrenia Bulletin

133

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The question of whether schizophrenia is associated with structural or functional abnormalities of the nervous system, or both, has become the principal focus of biological studies of schizophrenia. Computed tomography studies have revealed ventricular enlargement and cortical atrophy in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients. While present from the early stages of the illness, they appear to be most severe in patients with negative symptoms and poor outcome. Quantitative neuropathological studies have tentatively demonstrated decreased volume of specific brain areas, neuronal loss, and other changes in the limbic system, basal ganglia, and frontal cortex. Dopamine (DA) remains the neurotransmitter most likely to be involved in schizophrenia, although there is also evidence for disturbances of serotonin and norepinephrine. Post-mortem and positron emission tomographic studies suggest an increased number of D2 DA receptors in some schizophrenics. Neuroendocrine studies reinforce the role of DA in schizophrenics. Viral infections and autoimmune disturbances may be responsible for some types of schizophrenia, but there is no firm experimental evidence to support either hypothesis. The possibility that mixtures of structural abnormalities and functional changes involving DA occur in the same patients rather than independently as part of two syndromes (Type I, II) seems attractive. Future studies should identify subtypes of schizophrenia based on biological criteria and contribute to identification of specific genetic abnormalities which increase vulnerability to manifest the schizophrenic phenotype.

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Normal ventricles in chronic schizophrenics

Abstract: The computed tomography (CT) scans of 46 chronic schizophrenic patients and 46 controls were studied using ventricular-brain ratio. Ewans' index, and cella media index. None of the indices used revealed significant differences between the patient and the control groups.

Cited by 22 publications

References 20 publications

Age and duration of illness as predictors of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) size in chronic schizophrenic patients

Age and duration of illness as predictors of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) size in chronic schizophrenic patients

Computed tomography scans and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: chronic schizophrenics with negative symptoms and nonenlarged lateral ventricles

Biological Studies in Schizophrenia

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