Differences in lateral brain ventricular size among various types of chronic schizophrenics: EVIDENCE BASED ON A CT STUDY

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Abstract
Data based on computerized tomography [CT] of the brain in 70 chronic schizophrenics indicated that a severe degree of lateral brain enlargement was present in a great proportion. No correlation was found between lateral ventricular enlargement and age of patients, length of illness, duration of hospitalization or ECT [electroconvulsive therapy] treatment. To elucidate whether other factors (e.g., type of disease) are likely to correlate with the enlargement, these patients were divided into 3 subgroups: hebephrenics, paranoids and undifferentiated. Comparison of the mean values of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) of the above groups showed that paranoids presented a statistically greater enlargement than hebephrenics. There was no statistically significant difference between undifferentiated and hebephrenics. The difference between undifferentiated and paranoids approached statistical significance. There apparently exists a difference between the types of schizophrenia in CT images, a finding that may suggest different degrees of underlying disease process.