Ja. Frazier et al., CHILDHOOD-ONSET SCHIZOPHRENIA - BRAIN MRI RESCAN AFTER 2 YEARS OF CLOZAPINE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT, The American journal of psychiatry, 153(4), 1996, pp. 564-566
Objective: The effect of clozapine on striatal morphology was examined
in adolescents with childhood-onset schizophrenia. Method: Eight adol
escent patients with onset of psychosis before age 12 and eight matche
d comparison subjects had initial and 2-year follow-up brain magnetic
resonance imaging scans. Basal ganglia and lateral ventricle volumes w
ere measured. The patients were on a clozapine regimen during the 2-ye
ar interim. Results: Caudate volume was larger in the patients at the
initial scanning, decreased in the patients between scans, and did not
differ significantly between the patients and the comparison subjects
at the second scanning. Conclusions: Caudate enlargement in patients
with childhood-onset schizophrenia who are taking typical neuroleptics
appears to be secondary to medication exposure. Rescanning to examine
basal ganglia morphology is indicated for these patients when they ar
e taking an atypical neuroleptic.