Hippocampal pathology in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: A multi-modal magnetic resonance study

Abstract

Although the hippocampus is a key brain region in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, it is unclear whether structural or biochemical abnormalities predate illness onset. In this study, we used magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy data acquired prior to both the onset of psychosis and treatment with antipsychotics to determine this. Sixty-six young people clinically at ultra high-risk of development of psychosis were recruited, 59 of whom did not later develop a psychotic disorder and 7 who had done so after at least 24. months follow-up. These participants were compared with 29 healthy comparison subjects on multiple independent magnetic resonance measures: hippocampal volume, hipp..