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Larger Brains in Medication Naive High-Functioning Subjects with Pervasive Developmental Disorder

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Abstract

Background: Are brain volumes of individuals with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) still enlarged in adolescence and adulthood, and if so, is this enlargement confined to the gray and/or the white matter and is it global or more prominent in specific brain regions. Methods: Brain MRI scans were made of 21 adolescents with PDD and 21 closely matched controls. Results: All brain volumes, except the white matter, were significantly larger in patients. After correction for brain volume, ventricular volumes remained significantly larger in patients. Conclusions: Patients showed a proportional, global increase in gray matter and cerebellum volume, and a disproportional increase in ventricular volumes. Thus, at least in high-functioning patients with PDD, brain enlargement may still be present in adult life.

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  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, HP A01.468, 3584 CX , Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Saskia J. M. C. Palmen, Chantal Kemner & Herman van Engeland

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute Of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol, Hugo G. Schnack, Joost Janssen & René S. Kahn

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  1. Saskia J. M. C. Palmen
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  2. Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol
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  4. Hugo G. Schnack
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Correspondence to Saskia J. M. C. Palmen.

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Palmen, S.J.M.C., Hulshoff Pol, H.E., Kemner, C. et al. Larger Brains in Medication Naive High-Functioning Subjects with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 34, 603–613 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-5282-2

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