Non-reduction in hippocampal volume is associated with higher risk of psychosis

Abstract

Previous research using MRI scans has shown reduced hippocampal volumes in chronic schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis compared to well subjects. There are few MRI volumetric studies of high-risk cohorts and no studies that have compared structural measures between high-risk subjects who later developed a psychotic illness and those who did not. Therefore, the question of whether structural changes to the hippocampi precede the onset of an acute psychotic episode has not been answered. Hippocampal and whole brain volumes of 60 people at ultra high-risk (UHR) of developing a psychotic episode (identified through state and trait criteria) were obtained through MRI scan and compared with ..