Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

To determine structural abnormalities in the brain of patients with schizophrenia by Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI]. Comparative study. The Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to June 2008. Thirty-three cases of schizophrenia [n=33] and thirty-three age-matched controls, [n=33] were enrolled for this study. Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] of brain was done in order to see structural changes in brain matter. Findings were compared among groups using chi-square and Fisher's exact test with significance at p <0.05. Among the total of 66 [n=66] MRI films studied for brain abnormalities, brain atrophy, presence of septum pellicudum and enlarged Virchow-Robins spaces were significantly associated with schizophrenia [p<0.001]. There was no significant difference between cases and controls for ventricular dilatation [p=0.5]. Sinusitis was mostly associated with controls and well correlated with their symptoms [p<0.001]. Brain atrophy was the most commonly seen brain change in the studied sample of patients with schizophrenia. MRI brain can be used to identify structural abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia