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. 2011 Jul;41(7):1449-60.
doi: 10.1017/S003329171000200X. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Global and regional cortical thinning in first-episode psychosis patients: relationships with clinical and cognitive features

B Crespo-Facorro  1 , R Roiz-Santiáñez, R Pérez-Iglesias, J M Rodriguez-Sanchez, I Mata, D Tordesillas-Gutierrez, E Sanchez, R Tabarés-Seisdedos, N Andreasen, V Magnotta, J L Vázquez-Barquero
Affiliations

Global and regional cortical thinning in first-episode psychosis patients: relationships with clinical and cognitive features

B Crespo-Facorro et al. Psychol Med. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The thickness of the cortical mantle is a sensitive measure for identifying alterations in cortical structure. We aimed to explore whether first episode schizophrenia patients already show a significant cortical thinning and whether cortical thickness anomalies may significantly influence clinical and cognitive features.

Method: We investigated regional changes in cortical thickness in a large and heterogeneous sample of schizophrenia spectrum patients (n=142) at their first break of the illness and healthy controls (n=83). Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans (1.5 T) were obtained and images were analyzed by using brains2. The contribution of sociodemographic, cognitive and clinical characterictics was investigated.

Results: Patients showed a significant total cortical thinning (F=17.55, d=-0.62, p<0.001) and there was a diffuse pattern of reduced thickness (encompassing frontal, temporal and parietal cortices) (all p's<0.001, d's>0.53). No significant group×gender interactions were observed (all p's>0.15). There were no significant associations between the clinical and pre-morbid variables and cortical thickness measurements (all r's<0.12). A weak significant negative correlation between attention and total (r=-0.24, p=0.021) and parietal cortical thickness (r=-0.27, p=0.009) was found in patients (thicker cortex was associated with lower attention). Our data revealed a similar pattern of cortical thickness changes related to age in patients and controls.

Conclusions: Cortical thinning is independent of gender, age, age of onset and duration of the illness and does not seem to significantly influence clinical and functional symptomatology. These findings support a primary neurodevelopment disorder affecting the normal cerebral cortex development in schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

Professor Vazquez-Barquero and Professor Crespo-Facorro have received unrestricted research funding from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Bristol–Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson that were deposited into research accounts at the University of Cantabria. Professor Vazquez-Barquero has received honoraria for his participation as a speaker at educational events from Johnson & Johnson. Professor Crespo-Facorro has received honoraria for his participation as a speaker at educational events from Pfizer, Bristol–Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson and consultant fees from Pfizer. Dr Mata has received honoraria for his participation as a speaker at educational events from Johnson & Johnson. Dr Perez-Iglesias has received honoraria for his participation as a speaker at educational events from Bristol–Myers Squibb-Otsuka. Dr Andreasen has received research funding and advisory board consultation fees from Johnson and Johnson. Professor Tabarés-Seisdedos has received unrestricted research funding from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Lilly that were deposited into research accounts at the University of Valencia.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Correlations between total cortical thickness and age in patients and healthy volunteers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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