Third ventricle enlargement and developmental delay in first-episode psychosis: preliminary findings.

BACKGROUND

Third rather than lateral ventriculomegaly may be a more specific finding in psychosis. The relevance of ventricular abnormality remains unclear.

AIMS

To investigate the developmental correlates of ventricular enlargement.

METHOD

Information on childhood development and magnetic resonance images in 1.5-mm contiguous sections were collected on 21 patients experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

RESULTS

Patients (n = 21) had significantly less whole brain volume and enlarged third and lateral ventricles compared to controls (n = 25). Third ventricle (r = 0.48, P < 0.03) and lateral ventricle (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) volumes correlated with developmental score. Patients with developmental delay had significantly larger third and lateral ventricles than those without.

CONCLUSIONS

Enlargement of both third and lateral ventricles is found in first-episode psychosis and is related to developmental delay in childhood. Insult to periventricular areas is relevant to the neurobiology of the disease. These findings support the view that schizophrenia involves disturbance of neurodevelopmental processes in some patients.