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Childhood adversity and cortical thickness and surface area in a population at familial high risk of schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2015

V. Barker ,
C. Bois ,
E. C. Johnstone ,
D. G. C. Owens ,
H. C. Whalley ,
A. M. McIntosh  and
S. M. Lawrie
V. Barker*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
C. Bois
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
E. C. Johnstone
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
D. G. C. Owens
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
H. C. Whalley
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
A. M. McIntosh
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
S. M. Lawrie
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr V. Barker, Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

There is now a well-established link between childhood adversity (CA) and schizophrenia. Similar structural abnormalities to those found in schizophrenia including alterations in grey-matter volume have also been shown in those who experience CA.

Method

We examined whether global estimates of cortical thickness or surface area were altered in those familial high-risk subjects who had been referred to a social worker or the Children's Panel compared to those who had not.

Results

We found that the cortical surface area of those who were referred to the Children's Panel was significantly smaller than those who had not been referred, but cortical thickness was not significantly altered. There was also an effect of social work referral on cortical surface area but not on thickness.

Conclusions

Cortical surface area increases post-natally more than cortical thickness. Our findings suggest that CA can influence structural changes in the brain and it is likely to have a greater impact on cortical surface area than on cortical thickness.

Keywords

Childhood adversityfamilial high riskschizophrenia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 4 , March 2016 , pp. 891 - 896
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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