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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1988 Feb;51(2):209–213. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.51.2.209

Stability of CT scan findings in schizophrenia: results of an 8 year follow-up study.

B P Illowsky 1, D M Juliano 1, L B Bigelow 1, D R Weinberger 1
PMCID: PMC1031532  PMID: 3346684

Abstract

Earlier cross-sectional studies have suggested that CT findings of ventricular enlargement and increased cortical markings in schizophrenic patients are not progressive, but individual patients have rarely been followed prospectively. Fifteen patients with chronic schizophrenia were rescanned on the same model machine after 7 to 9 years of continuous illness and, in seven cases, of continuous hospitalisation. It was not possible to demonstrate significant changes in either ventricular-brain ratio or frontal atrophy scores. These results suggest that the pathologic process responsible for CT changes in schizophrenia is static and is not affected by 8 years of neuroleptic medication and institutionalisation.

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Selected References

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