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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Structural brain abnormalities in early-onset schizophrenia

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Author(s):
Maria Cristina Lombardo Ferrari [1] ; Luci Kimura [2] ; Luciana M. Nita [3] ; Hélio Elkis [4]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas
[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas
[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas
[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria; v. 64, p. 741-746, 2006-09-00.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few studies investigated brain abnormalities in early onset schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: To assess computed tomography (CT) abnormalities in patients with childhood or adolescence onset schizophrenia. Method: 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). RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: Compared to controls, patients with child or adolescent onset schizophrenia exhibit more pronounced ventricular enlargement. There were no differences regarding prefrontal atrophy. (AU)