DECREASED CAUDATE VOLUME IN NEUROLEPTIC-NAIVE PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS

Objective: Previous studies, mostly involving neuroleptic-treated pati ents, have suggested enlarged basal ganglia size in schizophrenia. The authors sought to examine basal ganglia volume in neuroleptic-naive p sychotic Patients. Method: Magnetic resonance imaging volumetric studi es were conduced in newly diagnosed neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic an d non-schizophrenic psychotic patients and in matched healthy comparis on subjects. Results: Both patient groups had bilaterally reduced caud ate, but not putamen, volumes, compared so the healthy subjects, after adjustment for intracranial volume. Conclusions: Decreases in caudate volume in newly diagnosed Psychotic patients may be related to the pr imary pathophysiology of these disorders; prior observations of increa sed caudate volume may reflect effects of neuroleptic treatment.