Abstract
Objective: Based on the role of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) in auditory processing, language comprehension and self-monitoring, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between STG cortical thickness and positive symptom severity in schizophrenia. Method: This prospective meta-analysis includes data from 1987 individuals with schizophrenia collected at seventeen centres around the world that contribute to the ENIGMA Schizophrenia Working Group. STG thickness measures were extracted from T1-weighted brain scans using FreeSurfer. The study performed a meta-analysis of effect sizes across sites generated by a model predicting left or right STG thickness with a positive symptom severity score (harmonized SAPS or PANSS-positive scores), while controlling for age, sex and site. Secondary models investigated relationships between antipsychotic medication, duration of illness, overall illness severity, handedness and STG thickness. Results: Positive symptom severity was negatively related to STG thickness in both hemispheres (left: βstd = −0.052; P = 0.021; right: βstd = −0.073; P = 0.001) when statistically controlling for age, sex and site. This effect remained stable in models including duration of illness, antipsychotic medication or handedness. Conclusion: Our findings further underline the important role of the STG in hallmark symptoms in schizophrenia. These findings can assist in advancing insight into symptom-relevant pathophysiological mechanisms in schizophrenia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 439-447 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
Volume | 135 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2017 |
Keywords
- ENIGMA
- FreeSurfer
- MRI
- cortical thickness
- positive and negative syndrome scale
- positive symptoms
- scale for the assessment of positive symptoms
- schizophrenia
- superior temporal gyrus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health