Cerebral gray matter volume deficits in first episode psychosis.

Abstract

INDIVIDUALS suffering from schizophrenia have been shown to have larger intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume^1-5 and smaller cerebral gray matter volume,^6-12 though some studies have failed to detect such differences.^13-16 There is much interest in establishing when these differences arise and whether they progress over the course of the illness. It is also unclear whether these differences in brain structure are associated with clinical features of the illness such as presence of a family history of schizophrenia, response to treatment, duration of illness, cognitive deficits, exposure to antipsychotic medication, or long-term outcome.