Computed Tomography in Schizophrenia

In 1976, Johnstone et al1reported the first computed tomography (CT) study in schizophrenia. They observed enlarged lateral ventricles in more than 50% of their sample of middle-aged patients undergoing longterm hospitalization. Three years later, Weinberger et al2studied a larger and younger population of research patients at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and they noted enlarged ventricles (2 SDs greater than normal) in a similar proportion. This group also reported enlarged cortical sulci3and an increased frequency of reversed cerebral asymmetry.4Subsequent studies have reported striking differences in the prevalence of ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia. For example, Golden et al5noted enlarged ventricles in 60% of their sample, while Andreasen et al*noted it in only 6%. In this issue of theArchives, along with two reports of enlarged ventricles in schizophrenics by Nasrallah et al and Weinberger et al (see pp