Maudsley family study : whole brain volume changes in sporadic schizophrenics and their first degree relatives

Abstract

The Maudsley Family Study in families multiply affected with schizophrenia, has shown that patients with schizophrenia and their relatives (mostly presumed obligate carriers) have brain changes which are not present in unrelated controls. We extended this study to sporadic patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives. Sporadic Schizophrenics were defined as patients who did not have first or second degree relatives suffering from schizophrenia. The MRI investigations were carried out on a single 1.5 Tesla General Electric Sigma System. Images were measured using the software package MEASURE and this was performed by a single operator (A.G.) who was blind to diagnostic status and group affiliation. Here we present the findings regarding the Whole Brain Volume (WBV). 16 patients with DSM3R schizophrenia were compared to 16 unrelated subjects as controls that were matched for age, sex, social class and handedness. Subject and controls were also compared to 25 first-degree relatives of the schizophrenics (Mean age difference= 19.7 years). We did not replicate the findings of previous research that showed that schizophrenics have smaller brains. In our sample there was no difference between the WBV of schizophrenic patients (1050.68) and controls (1049.38), F =0.634, p=0.432. The WBV of the first-degree relatives (995.40) was 5.26% smaller than that of schizophrenics (F=0.011, p=0.917) and 5.14% (F=0.834, p= 0.367) smaller than that of controls. This non-statistically significant difference could be explained by the older age in the relatives.