Cortical atrophy in schizophrenia. Prevalence and associated features.

The degree of cortical atrophy as revealed by computed tomographic scans was assessed in 124 patients meeting the DSM III criteria for schizophrenia and in 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. 21 patients, i.e., 33% of the entire sample, showed moderate to severe atrophy. The presence of atrophy was not associated with such variables as patients' age, age at onset and duration of illness, diagnostic subtype of schizophrenia, family history of schizophrenia in first degree relatives, history of suicidal behavior, I.Q., employment status, clinical outcome on neuroleptic treatment and HLA antigens distribution. The only variables found to be associated with atrophy were: male sex and cerebral ventricular enlargement. The significance of the CT finding of cortical atrophy in schizophrenia is discussed in the light of these results.