engleski

Temporal lobe volume in disorders with psychotic features

Introduction. In the investigation of the possible common neurobiological basis for psychotic features, studies comparing these disorders in the same sample are of particular importance. Since the early neuropathological findings, temporal lobe has been suggested to be related to the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to compare temporal lobe volumes in separate groups of patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders, and to assess asymmetry differences. Materials & Methods. Temporal lobe volumes were estimated using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging in 60 subjects, 15 subjects in each patient group and one control group. Results. There were no statistically significant differences in temporal lobe volumes between the patient and control groups. Comparison of the left and right temporal lobes showed the left temporal lobes to be smaller than the right temporal lobes, however, the difference reached statistical significance only in the groups of patients with schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. Conclusion. Overall temporal lobe volume may be less informative in respect to neuropathology of disorders with psychotic features than volumes of specific temporal lobe structures, medial temporal lobe structures in particular.

temporal lobe; volume; psychosis

Indexed / Abstracted in: Neuroscience Citation Index ; EMBASE / Excerpta Medica