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Reduction in volume in hippocampus region of brain seen in psychotic disorders

Date:
May 14, 2014
Source:
The JAMA Network Journals
Summary:
Reduction in brain volume in the hippocampus (a region related to memory) was seen in patients with the psychotic disorders schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and psychotic bipolar disorder. The pathophysiology of psychotic disorders remains unclear, especially schizoaffective disorder. Changes in volume in the hippocampus are a hallmark of schizoaffective disorder. Advances in image processing allow for the precise parceling of specific hippocampal areas.
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Reduction in brain volume in the hippocampus (a region related to memory) was seen in patients with the psychotic disorders schizophrenia (SZ), schizoaffective disorder (SZA) and psychotic bipolar disorder (BPP).

The pathophysiology of psychotic disorders remains unclear, especially SZ. Changes in volume in the hippocampus are a hallmark of SZ. Advances in image processing allow for the precise parceling of specific hippocampal areas.

The authors conducted a neuroimaging study in patients with psychotic disorders and healthy volunteers as part of the multisite Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes (Wayne State University, Harvard University, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Chicago/University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and the Institute of Living/Yale University). The study included patients with SZ (n=219), SZA (n=142) or BPP (n=188), along with 337 healthy volunteers.

Volume reductions in the hippocampus were seen in all three groups of patients with psychotic disorders when compared with healthy volunteers. Smaller volumes also were seen across specific hippocampal areas in all three psychotic disorders groups. Hippocampal volumes were associated with the severity of psychosis, declarative memory and overall cognitive performance.

"This study firmly establishes the hippocampus as one of the key nodes in the pathway to psychosis. Understanding the functional consequences and etiological underpinnings of these alterations will likely facilitate better prediction and targeted intervention in psychoses."


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Materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Ian Mathew, Tova M. Gardin, Neeraj Tandon, Shaun Eack, Alan N. Francis, Larry J. Seidman, Brett Clementz, Godfrey D. Pearlson, John A. Sweeney, Carol A. Tamminga, Matcheri S. Keshavan. Medial Temporal Lobe Structures and Hippocampal Subfields in Psychotic Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 2014; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.453

Cite This Page:

The JAMA Network Journals. "Reduction in volume in hippocampus region of brain seen in psychotic disorders." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 May 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140514165416.htm>.
The JAMA Network Journals. (2014, May 14). Reduction in volume in hippocampus region of brain seen in psychotic disorders. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140514165416.htm
The JAMA Network Journals. "Reduction in volume in hippocampus region of brain seen in psychotic disorders." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140514165416.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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