Morphological changes in the brains of schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The object of the meta analysis is the enlargement of the lateral ventricles and the atrophy of the frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients in comparison with different control groups. The frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients is reduced in opposite to that one of the control group with an effect size of Delta = 0.41. The lateral ventricles of schizophrenic patients are enlarged with an even larger effect size (Delta = 0.54). Further moderator analyses show a different enlargement of the ventricles for the schizophrenic patients depending on choice of the control group. Control groups consist of somatic ill patients, of healthy people from the community, of staff from the hospital, of a mixed group of staff and people from the community or also of a second mixed group with psychiatric controls and unaffected twins or sibbles of the schizophrenic patients. Further moderator variables can be identified as well, which are associated with the development of the scientific field. The effect sizes turn out to be smaller at the newer examinations since the systematic error variance is checked better. The results are discussed critically in their conclusions for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.