Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE To determine structural abnormalities in the brain of patients with schizophrenia by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). STUDY DESIGN Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY Thirty-three cases of schizophrenia (n=33) and thirty-three age-matched controls, (n=33) were enrolled for this study. Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain was done in order to see structural changes in brain matter. Findings were compared among groups using chi-square and Fisher's exact test with significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS Among the total of 66 (n=66) MRI films studied for brain abnormalities, brain atrophy, presence of septum pellucidum and enlarged Virchow-Robins spaces were significantly associated with schizophrenia (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between cases and controls for ventricular dilatation (p=0.5). Sinusitis was mostly associated with controls and well correlated with their symptoms (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Brain atrophy was the most commonly seen brain change in the studied sample of patients with schizophrenia. MRI brain can be used to identify structural abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia.