Shape differences in the corpus callosum in first-episode schizophrenia and first-episode psychotic affective disorder

Frumin M, Golland P, Kikinis R, Hirayasu Y, Salisbury DF, Hennen J, Dickey CC, Anderson M, Jolesz FA, Grimson WE, McCarley RW, Shenton ME

Am J Psychiatry 2002 May;159(5):866-8

PMID: 11986146

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The corpus callosum, the largest white matter tract in the brain, is a midline structure associated with the formation of the hippocampus, septum pellucidum, and cingulate cortex, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Corpus callosum shape deformation, therefore, may reflect a midline neurodevelopmental abnormality.

METHOD: Corpus callosum area and shape were analyzed in 14 first-episode psychotic patients with schizophrenia, 19 first-episode psychotic patients with affective disorder, and 18 normal comparison subjects.

RESULTS: No statistically significant corpus callosum area differences between groups were found, but there were differences in the structure’s shape between the patients with schizophrenia and the comparison subjects. A correlation between width and angle of the corpus callosum was found in patients with affective disorder.

CONCLUSIONS: Corpus callosum shape abnormalities in first-episode psychotic patients with schizophrenia may reflect a midline neurodevelopmental abnormality.