First Episode Schizophrenia Studies

Heschl's gyrus and planum temporale regions drawn on a coronal MR slice (left), and a 3D rendering shown overlayed on an axial MR slice.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been useful in revealing subtle structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia patients, including ventricular enlargement, volume reduction in the frontal and parietal lobes, and gray matter reduction of medial temporal lobe structures (see Shenton et al., 2001 for a review of abnormal MRI findings in schizophrenia; see also McCarley et al. 1999). It is unknown, however, whether the brain abnormalities observed with MRI in schizophrenia are confounded by chronicity or whether there is a continual degenerative process. Chronic schizophrenia patients may demonstrate pathology secondary to chronic neuroleptic medication and long-term institutionalization. Examining first episode patients can thus obviate chronicity-related confounds.

Drs. McCarley, Shenton, and Salisbury have spearheaded efforts to evaluate first-episode psychotic patients, including those who at 6 months have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as well as patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Findings (see references below) suggest that within the first year changes are observed in the superior temporal gyrus region of the temporal lobe, including Heschl's gyrus and planum temporale, brain regions important in primary and secondary auditory processing.

View Related Publications