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Volumetric analysis of septal region in schizophrenia and affective disorder

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Abstract

MRI and post-mortem studies indicate an increased prevalence of cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) in schizophrenia and affective disorder. The aim of this study was to characterize the CSP and the septal tissue among patients with schizophrenia, patients with affective disorder, and control subjects. The volumes of CSP and septal tissue were measured in post-mortem brains in 42 patients with schizophrenia, 14 patients with affective disorder, and 17 normal control cases by planimetry of serial sections. Enlargements of CSP (>100 mm3) were found in eight of the 42 (19%) patients with schizophrenia. There were no significant differences in CSP volumes between patients with affective disorder and controls. Enlarged CSP in schizophrenia were not associated with reduced septal tissue volumes. By contrast, a significant positive correlation between volumes of CSP and septal tissue volumes in patients with schizophrenia (P = 0.03) and in control cases (P < 0.01) was found, but not in patients with affective disorder (P = 0.53). The finding of enlarged CSP in schizophrenia strongly supports the hypothesis of an early developmental abnormality in this key structure of the limbic system.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by NBL3-2 by the BMBF (Förderkennzeichen 01ZZ0407) and the Stanley Foundation.

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  1. Dept. of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Ralf Brisch, Hans-Gert Bernstein, Dieter Krell, Renate Stauch, Henrik Dobrowolny, Hendrik Bielau & Bernhard Bogerts

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr.55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Kurt Trübner

  3. Dept. of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany

    Siegfried Kropf

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  1. Ralf Brisch
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Brisch, R., Bernstein, HG., Krell, D. et al. Volumetric analysis of septal region in schizophrenia and affective disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 257, 140–148 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-006-0697-8

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