BACKGROUND: Claims that schizophrenia is a disease of the limbic system have been strengthened by meta-analyses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies finding reduced hippocampus and amygdala volumes. Some post-mortem studies do not find these abnormalities. AIMS: To assess the volume of the amygdala in a series of brains post-mortem. METHOD: Amygdala volume was estimated using point-counting in both hemispheres of the brains of 10 male and 8 female patients with schizophrenia, and a comparison group of 9 males and 9 females. RESULTS: No significant reduction of amygdala volume was found. CONCLUSIONS: Significant volume reduction of the amygdala is not a consistent feature of schizophrenia; findings from early MRI studies using coarse delineation methods may introduce bias to subsequent meta-analyses.
BACKGROUND: Claims that schizophrenia is a disease of the limbic system have been strengthened by meta-analyses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies finding reduced hippocampus and amygdala volumes. Some post-mortem studies do not find these abnormalities. AIMS: To assess the volume of the amygdala in a series of brains post-mortem. METHOD: Amygdala volume was estimated using point-counting in both hemispheres of the brains of 10 male and 8 female patients with schizophrenia, and a comparison group of 9 males and 9 females. RESULTS: No significant reduction of amygdala volume was found. CONCLUSIONS: Significant volume reduction of the amygdala is not a consistent feature of schizophrenia; findings from early MRI studies using coarse delineation methods may introduce bias to subsequent meta-analyses.
Authors: Yarema B Bezchlibnyk; Xiujun Sun; Jun-Feng Wang; Glenda M MacQueen; Bruce S McEwen; L Trevor Young Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 6.186
Authors: Brian Weisinger; Deanna Greenstein; Anand Mattai; Liv Clasen; Francois Lalonde; Sara Feldman; Rachel Miller; Julia W Tossell; Nora S Vyas; Reva Stidd; Christopher David; Nitin Gogtay Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2011-05-25 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Tara L McHugh; Andrew J Saykin; Heather A Wishart; Laura A Flashman; Howard B Cleavinger; Laura A Rabin; Alexander C Mamourian; Li Shen Journal: Clin Neuropsychol Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 3.535