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Morphology of the corpus callosum at different stages of schizophrenia: cross-sectional study in first-episode and chronic illness

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and North Western Mental Health Program, Sunshine Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne

Amanda G. Wood, PhD and David C. Reutens, MD, FRACP

Department of Medicine (Neurosciences), Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne

Stephen J. Wood, PhD

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and North Western Mental Health Program, Sunshine Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Jian Chen, ME

Department of Medicine (Neurosciences), Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne

Dennis Velakoulis, FRANZCP

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and North Western Mental Health Program, Sunshine Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Patrick D. McGorry, FRANZCP

ORYGEN Research Centre, Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC), Personal Assistance and Crisis Evalaution (PACE) Clinic, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne

Christos Pantelis, MD, FRANZCP

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and North Western Mental Health Program, Sunshine Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Correspondence: Mark Walterfang, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VI 3050, Australia. Email: mark.walterfang{at}mh.org.au

Declaration of interest

None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

This paper has been corrected post-publication, in deviation from print and in accordance with a printed corrigendum to appear in the August issue of the journal.

Background

The shape of the corpus callosum may differ in schizophrenia, although no study has compared first-episode with established illness.

Aims

To investigate the size and shape of the corpus callosum in a large sample of people with first-episode and established schizophrenia.

Method

Callosal size and shape were determined using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging on 76 patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, 86 patients with established schizophrenia and 55 healthy participants.

Results

There were no significant differences in total area across groups. Reductions in callosal width were seen in the region of the anterior genu in first-episode disorder (P<0.005). Similar reductions were seen in the chronic schizophrenia group in the anterior genu, but also in the posterior genu and isthmus (P=0.0005).

Conclusions

Reductions in anterior callosal regions connecting frontal cortex are present at the onset of schizophrenia, and in established illness are accompanied by changes in other regions of the callosum connecting cingulate, temporal and parietal cortices.