Evidence for non-progressive changes in adolescent-onset schizophrenia: follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study

Br J Psychiatry. 2002 Apr:180:339-44. doi: 10.1192/bjp.180.4.339.

Abstract

Background: It is not clear how far brain abnormalities in early-onset schizophrenia result from progressive neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative processes. Aims To investigate the hypothesis that structural brain abnormalities in adolescent-onset schizophrenia are progressive in the early phase of the illness.

Method: A magnetic resonance imaging case-control study of 16 adolescents with schizophrenia (mean age 16.6 years, s.d.=1.9 years) with a mean time of 2.7 years (s.d.=1.7 years) between measurements and 16 matched controls (average age 16.0 years, s.d.=2.0 years) with a mean time of 1.7 years (s.d.=0.5 years) between measurements.

Results: There was no evidence of progressive structural brain changes during late adolescence. Significant ventricular enlargement (greater in males) and left-sided temporal lobe changes were evident from the outset of the illness.

Conclusions: Neurodevelopmental brain abnormalities are non-progressive during late adolescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Diseases / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cerebral Ventricles / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Schizophrenia / pathology*
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology