BRAIN ABNORMALITIES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA-SPECTRUM CHILDREN - IMPLICATIONSFOR A NEURODEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

Children with symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (N=20) were compared to controls (N=20) matched for age and socioeconomic status. Structural brain abnormalities were assessed with magnetic resonance i maging and functional brain abnormalities with neuropsychological test s. Children with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder had smaller amygdala and temporal cortex volumes, along with reduced callosal areas and an unusual pattern of neuroanatomic asymmetries. No differences were note d in overall brain volume, ventricular volume, hippocampal volume, or frontal area. Schizophrenia-spectrum children were also characterized by deficits in all neuropsychological functions examined. Some types o f verbal memory and frontal lobe skills were especially deficient. The se results support the hypothesis that children with schizophrenia-spe ctrum disorder have significant brain abnormalities, similar in some w ays to those seen in adult schizophrenics. In conjunction with recent primate studies, the current results draw attention to the role of the amygdala as one relevant factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.