Brain volume in first-episode schizophrenia

Abstract

We sorted the cross-sectional database by We sorted the cross-sectional database by brain structure, to determine where brain brain structure, to determine where brain volumetric changes had been sought. Brain volumetric changes had been sought. Brain volume changes in the first-episode group volume changes in the first-episode group were summarised, with respect to controls, were summarised, with respect to controls, on a structure-by-structure basis (further on a structure-by-structure basis (further information available from the author upon information available from the author upon request). We then conducted a meta-analysis request). We then conducted a meta-analysis of all cross-sectional studies that measured of all cross-sectional studies that measured whole-brain volume in the first-episode whole-brain volume in the first-episode group relative to controls (Table 2). For group relative to controls (Table 2). For each component study in the meta-each component study in the meta-analysis, we abstracted information about analysis, we abstracted information about sample properties (size, mean and standard sample properties (size, mean and standard deviation) from the original paper and deviation) from the original paper and fitted a blocked analysis of variance model fitted a blocked analysis of variance model (with study as the blocking factor) to exam-(with study as the blocking factor) to examine group differences. We additionally ine group differences. We additionally fitted models with the group fitted models with the group6 6treatment treatment interaction, to assess heterogeneity; inter-interaction, to assess heterogeneity; interactions were non-significant in all cases, actions were non-significant in all cases, so we used the models without the so we used the models without the interaction terms. We did similar meta-interaction terms. We did similar meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies that mea-analyses of cross-sectional studies that measured differences in hippocampal volume sured differences in hippocampal volume (Table 3) and ventricular volume (Table 4).