Neuromorphological abnormalities in schizophrenic patients with good and poor outcome

Objective: The present study was designed specifically to assess the relationship between brain morphology and outcome in schizophrenia. Method: Fifty-six schizophrenic patients and a matched group of 32 healthy subjects were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scans. Clinical assessment included the Krawiecka-Manchester Scale (K-MS) and the Outcome scale by Strauss and Carpenter. Results: Along several neuromorphological measures the patients differed from controls only for right and left ventricular volumes. The 'poor outcome' patients had a left and right ventricular enlargement when compared to the 'good outcome' patients and healthy controls. A regression analysis showed that right ventricle volume, left temporal lobe volume and left hippocampal volume entered into the regression equation, accounting for a 27% of the outcome measure. Conclusion: The outcome does not seem to be predicted by one particular morphological site but involves different brain regions; however, the ventricular enlargement identifies a subgroup of patients with poor outcome.