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Reduced frontal and occipital lobe asymmetry on the CT-scans of schizophrenic patients. Its specificity and clinical significance

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Summary

Frontal and occipital lobe width were determined in the computed tomographic (= CT) scans of 135 schizophrenic patients, 158 neuropsychiatrically healthy and 102 psychiatric control subjects, including patients with affective psychosis, neurosis and schizoaffective psychosis. Most healthy right handed subjects demonstrate a relative enlargement of the right frontal as well as left occipital lobe compared to the oposite hemisphere. These normal frontal and occipital lobe asymmetries were selectively reduced in schizophrenics (f.: 5%, p <.0005; o.: 3%, p <.05), irrespective of the psychopathological subgroup. Schizophrenic neuroleptic non-responders revealed a significant reduction of frontal lobe asymmetry (3%, p <.05), while no correlation between BPRS-subscores and disturbed cerebral laterality could be detected. In sum the present study demonstrates disturbed cerebral lateralisation in schizophrenic patients supporting the hypothesis of interrupted early brain development in schizophrenia.

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Author notes

  1. P. Falkai

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry, University of Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany

    T. Schneider, B. Greve & E. Klieser

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    B. Bogerts

Authors
  1. P. Falkai
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  2. T. Schneider
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  3. B. Greve
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  4. E. Klieser
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  5. B. Bogerts
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Falkai, P., Schneider, T., Greve, B. et al. Reduced frontal and occipital lobe asymmetry on the CT-scans of schizophrenic patients. Its specificity and clinical significance. J. Neural Transmission 99, 63–77 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01271470

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01271470

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