TY - JOUR
T1 - Widespread Volumetric Reductions in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Patients Displaying Compromised Cognitive Abilities
AU - Van Rheenen, Tamsyn E.
AU - Cropley, Vanessa
AU - Zalesky, Andrew
AU - Bousman, Chad
AU - Wells, Ruth
AU - Bruggemann, Jason
AU - Sundram, Suresh
AU - Weinberg, Danielle
AU - Lenroot, Roshel K.
AU - Pereira, Avril
AU - Shannon Weickert, Cynthia
AU - Weickert, Thomas W.
AU - Pantelis, Christos
PY - 2018/4/6
Y1 - 2018/4/6
N2 - Objective: Progress toward understanding brain mechanisms in psychosis is hampered by failures to account for within-group heterogeneity that exists across neuropsychological domains. We recently identified distinct cognitive subgroups that might assist in identifying more biologically meaningful subtypes of psychosis. In the present study, we examined whether underlying structural brain abnormalities differentiate these cognitively derived subgroups. Method: 1.5T T1 weighted structural scans were acquired for 168 healthy controls and 220 patients with schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder. Based on previous work, 47 patients were categorized as being cognitively compromised (impaired premorbid and current IQ), 100 as cognitively deteriorated (normal premorbid IQ, impaired current IQ), and 73 as putatively cognitively preserved (premorbid and current IQ within 1 SD of controls). Global, subcortical and cortical volume, thickness, and surface area measures were compared among groups. Results: Whole cortex, subcortical, and regional volume and thickness reductions were evident in all subgroups compared to controls, with the largest effect sizes in the compromised group. This subgroup also showed abnormalities in regions not seen in the other patient groups, including smaller left superior and middle frontal areas, left anterior and inferior temporal areas and right lateral medial and inferior frontal, occipital lobe and superior temporal areas. Conclusions: This pattern of more prominent brain structural abnormalities in the group with the most marked cognitive impairments-both currently and putatively prior to illness onset, is consistent with the concept of schizophrenia as a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder. In this group, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative factors may be important for cognitive function.
AB - Objective: Progress toward understanding brain mechanisms in psychosis is hampered by failures to account for within-group heterogeneity that exists across neuropsychological domains. We recently identified distinct cognitive subgroups that might assist in identifying more biologically meaningful subtypes of psychosis. In the present study, we examined whether underlying structural brain abnormalities differentiate these cognitively derived subgroups. Method: 1.5T T1 weighted structural scans were acquired for 168 healthy controls and 220 patients with schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder. Based on previous work, 47 patients were categorized as being cognitively compromised (impaired premorbid and current IQ), 100 as cognitively deteriorated (normal premorbid IQ, impaired current IQ), and 73 as putatively cognitively preserved (premorbid and current IQ within 1 SD of controls). Global, subcortical and cortical volume, thickness, and surface area measures were compared among groups. Results: Whole cortex, subcortical, and regional volume and thickness reductions were evident in all subgroups compared to controls, with the largest effect sizes in the compromised group. This subgroup also showed abnormalities in regions not seen in the other patient groups, including smaller left superior and middle frontal areas, left anterior and inferior temporal areas and right lateral medial and inferior frontal, occipital lobe and superior temporal areas. Conclusions: This pattern of more prominent brain structural abnormalities in the group with the most marked cognitive impairments-both currently and putatively prior to illness onset, is consistent with the concept of schizophrenia as a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder. In this group, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative factors may be important for cognitive function.
KW - brain volume
KW - cortical surface area
KW - cortical thickness
KW - intracranial volume
KW - neuropsychological subgroups
KW - total brain volume
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045144153&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/schbul/sbx109
DO - 10.1093/schbul/sbx109
M3 - Article
C2 - 28981831
AN - SCOPUS:85045144153
SN - 0586-7614
VL - 44
SP - 560
EP - 574
JO - Schizophrenia Bulletin
JF - Schizophrenia Bulletin
IS - 3
ER -