Third ventricle enlargement and developmental delay in first-episode psychosis: preliminary findings

Background Third rather than lateral ventriculomegaly may be a more specifi c finding in psychosis. The relevance of ventricular abnormality remains un clear. Aims To investigate the developmental correlates of ventricular enlargement . Method Information on childhood development and magnetic resonance images i n 1.5-mm contiguous sections were collected on 21 patients experiencing a f irst episode of psychosis. Results Patients (n=21) had significantly less whole brain volume and enlar ged third and lateral ventricles compared to controls (n=25). Third ventric le (r=0.48, P<0.03) and lateral ventricle (r=0.65, P<0.01)volumes correlate d with developmental score. Patients with developmental delay had significa ntly larger third and lateral ventricles than those without. Conclusions Enlargement of both third and lateral ventricles is found in fi rst episode psychosis and is related to developmental delay in childhood. i nsult to periventricular areas is relevant to the neurobiology of the disea se. These findings support the view that schizophrenia involves disturbance of neurodevelopmental processes in some patients.