Using MRI to Differentiate First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients from Healthy Controls
Author Information
Author(s): Takayanagi Yoichiro, Takahashi Tsutomu, Orikabe Lina, Mozue Yuriko, Kawasaki Yasuhiro, Nakamura Kazue, Sato Yoko, Itokawa Masanari, Yamasue Hidenori, Kasai Kiyoto, Kurachi Masayoshi, Okazaki Yuji, Suzuki Michio
Primary Institution: Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
Hypothesis
Cortical thinning and gray matter volume reductions in prefrontal and temporal regions would be seen in schizophrenia patients compared with controls, and these MRI measures would differentiate schizophrenia patients from healthy subjects with good accuracy.
Conclusion
Combinations of automated brain measures successfully differentiated first-episode schizophrenia patients from healthy controls.
Supporting Evidence
- Schizophrenia patients showed gray matter volume reductions and cortical thinning in various brain regions.
- The classifiers obtained from 66 subjects successfully assigned 26 subjects with accuracy above 80%.
- Significant gray matter volume reductions were observed in the bilateral hippocampus and occipital cortices.
- Significant cortical thinning was observed in prefrontal and temporal regions.
- Automated brain measures may provide objective biological information for early schizophrenia diagnosis.
Takeaway
Doctors can use brain scans to tell if someone has early schizophrenia by looking at the size and thickness of certain brain areas.
Methodology
Three-dimensional MR images were acquired from 52 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 40 healthy subjects, and brain measures were calculated using automated procedures for classification.
Potential Biases
Higher socio-economic status of the control group compared to schizophrenia patients might have confounded the analyses.
Limitations
The study lacked inclusion of other psychiatric disorders, had a modest sample size, and results may have been influenced by antipsychotic medication.
Participant Demographics
52 first-episode schizophrenia patients (29 males, 23 females) and 40 healthy subjects (22 males, 18 females).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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