MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY IN OFFSPRING AT RISK FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA - PRELIMINARY STUDIES

1. Studies of first-degree relatives of persons with schizophrenia pro vide an opportunity to characterize risk factors for the development o f this illness. In this report the authors will provide preliminary da ta from an ongoing study of neurobiological alterations in the offspri ng of schizophrenia patients. 2. A series of offspring of schizophreni c patients (OS) were compared with age and sex matched healthy control s (HC) without psychiatric history in first degree relatives on psychi atric, volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of whole brain and proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (H-1 MRS) evaluations of the ve ntral prefrontal cortex. 3. Compared with HC group, high risk subjects had reduced left amygdala volume, enlarged third ventricular volume, and smaller overall brain volume. 4. H-1 MRS studies showed a trend fo r decreased NAA/choline ratios in the anterior cingulate region in the OS group as compared to HC subjects. 5. Follow-up studies of these su bjects are needed to confirm the predictive value of these measures fo r future emergence of schizophrenia in subjects at risk for this illne ss.