Jorien van der Velde1, Paula M Gromann2, Marte Swart3, Lieuwe de Haan4, Durk Wiersma5, Richard Bruggeman5, Lydia Krabbendam6, André Aleman7. 1. Neuroimaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen; Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Academy of Social studies, Groningen, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Educational Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Lentis, Center for Mental Healthcare, Groningen, The Netherlands. 4. The Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. The Department of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 6. The Department of Educational Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 7. The Neuroimaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Grey matter, both volume and concentration, has been proposed as an endophenotype for schizophrenia given a number of reports of grey matter abnormalities in relatives of patients with schizophrenia. However, previous studies on grey matter abnormalities in relatives have produced inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to examine grey matter differences between controls and siblings of patients with schizophrenia and to examine whether the age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms of selected individuals could explain the previously reported inconsistencies. METHODS: We compared the grey matter volume and grey matter concentration of healthy siblings of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls matched for age, sex and education using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Furthermore, we selected subsamples based on age (< 30 yr), genetic loading and subclinical psychotic symptoms to examine whether this would lead to different results. RESULTS: We included 89 siblings and 69 controls in our study. The results showed that siblings and controls did not differ significantly on grey matter volume or concentration. Furthermore, specifically selecting participants based on age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms did not alter these findings. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation was that subdividing the sample resulted in smaller samples for the subanalyses. Furthermore, we used MRI data from 2 different scanner sites. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that grey matter measured through VBM might not be a suitable endophenotype for schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND: Grey matter, both volume and concentration, has been proposed as an endophenotype for schizophrenia given a number of reports of grey matter abnormalities in relatives of patients with schizophrenia. However, previous studies on grey matter abnormalities in relatives have produced inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to examine grey matter differences between controls and siblings of patients with schizophrenia and to examine whether the age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms of selected individuals could explain the previously reported inconsistencies. METHODS: We compared the grey matter volume and grey matter concentration of healthy siblings of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls matched for age, sex and education using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Furthermore, we selected subsamples based on age (< 30 yr), genetic loading and subclinical psychotic symptoms to examine whether this would lead to different results. RESULTS: We included 89 siblings and 69 controls in our study. The results showed that siblings and controls did not differ significantly on grey matter volume or concentration. Furthermore, specifically selecting participants based on age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms did not alter these findings. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation was that subdividing the sample resulted in smaller samples for the subanalyses. Furthermore, we used MRI data from 2 different scanner sites. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that grey matter measured through VBM might not be a suitable endophenotype for schizophrenia.
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