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Cerebral Ventricular Enlargement in Chronic Schizophrenia: Consistencies and Contradictions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Farmer ,
R. Jackson ,
P. McGuffin  and
P. Storey
A. Farmer*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
R. Jackson
Affiliation:
Graylirigwell Hospital, Chichester
P. McGuffin
Affiliation:
University of Wales, College of Medicine, Cardiff, Institute of Psychiatry, London
P. Storey
Affiliation:
Springfield and St Georges Hospitals, Tooting, London
*
∗Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

A study of cerebral ventricular size measured as ventricle to brain ratio (VBR) using computerised tomographic brain scan in chronic schizophrenics provided no support for suggestions that there are significant differences between patients who fall into different clinical subtypes. We found no significant difference in VBR between patients with and without a family history of schizophrenia or between those with or without paranoid symptoms. Applying Crow's classification, contrary to expectations, Type 1 patients had significantly larger ventricles than those with ‘mixed’ symptomatology (both Type 1 and Type 2 features). We also applied a variety of operational criteria which attempt to define schizophrenia as a whole: of these only Schneider's first-rank symptoms (FRS) yielded conclusive results - FRS-positive patients had significantly larger mean VBR than those without such symptoms. Previously, it has been suggested that ventricular enlargement is more closely associated with ‘negative’ than with ‘positive’ symptoms.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 3 , March 1987 , pp. 324 - 330
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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