Clinical differences between schizophrenic patients with and without large cerebral ventricles.

In a group of 55 chronic schizophrenic men aged 20-45 years, the mean ventricle to brain ratio (VBR) on computerized tomographic brain scan was significantly greater than in 27 matched control subjects. A clinical comparison was then conducted between the schizophrenic patients with VBRs above (N = 19) or below (N = 36) 2 SD from the control mean. No differences were found in age of onset, premorbid history, duration of illness, severity of illness, response to neuroleptic drug treatment, presence of positive or negative symptoms, substance abuse, or cognitive testing. However patients with VBRs greater than 2 SD above the mean were significantly older and had a significantly higher frequency of history of schizophrenia in a first-degree relative.