Adhesio interthalamica in male patients with schizophrenia

Objective: The authors investigated whether absence of the adhesio intertha lamica in patients with schizophrenia constitutes a marker of early develop mental neuropathological changes. Method: Thirty male patients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy male subject s were recruited for study Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and th e presence or absence of the adhesio interthalamica was determined for each subject. The length and volume of the third ventricle were also measured. Results: No differences in the presence or absence of the adhesio interthal amica were found between patients with schizophrenia and normal comparison subjects. Patients without the adhesio interthalamica had significantly hig her scores for negative symptoms than patients with the adhesio interthalam ica. There was no correlation between absence of the adhesio interthalamica and length and volume of the third ventricle in either patients or compari son subjects. Conclusions: The findings suggest that patients with schizophrenia who do n ot have the adhesio interthalamica are characterized by more severe negativ e symptoms.