Article: Prefrontal deviations in function but not volume are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia

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TitlePrefrontal deviations in function but not volume are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia
AuthorsOwens, SF1 2
Picchioni, MM2
Ettinger, U3
McDonald, C5
Walshe, M2
Schmechtig, A2
Murray, RM2
Rijsdijk, F2
Toulopoulou, T2 4
KeywordsFamily
Genetic
MRI
Prefrontal
Twin
Issue Date2012
PublisherOxford University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/
CitationBrain, 2012, v. 135 n. 7, p. 2231-2244 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws138
AbstractThis study sought to systematically investigate whether prefrontal cortex grey matter volume reductions are valid endophenotypes for schizophrenia, specifically investigating their presence in unaffected relatives, heritability, genetic overlap with the disorder itself and finally to contrast their performance on these criteria with putative neuropsychological indices of prefrontal functioning. We used a combined twin and family design and examined four prefrontal cortical regions of interest. Superior and inferior regions were significantly smaller in patients. However, the volumes of these same regions were normal in unaffected relatives and therefore, we could confirm that such deficits were not due to familial effects. Volumes of the prefrontal and orbital cortices were, however, moderately heritable, but neither shared a genetic overlap with schizophrenia. Total prefrontal cortical volume reductions shared a significant unique environmental overlap with the disorder, suggesting that the reductions were not familial. In contrast, prefrontal (executive) functioning deficits were present in the unaffected relatives, were moderately heritable and shared a substantial genetic overlap with liability to schizophrenia. These results suggest that the well recognized prefrontal volume reductions are not related to the same familial influences that increase schizophrenia liability and instead may be attributable to illness related biological changes or indeed confounded by illness trajectory, chronicity, medication or substance abuse, or in fact a combination of some or all of them. © The Author (2012). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved.
ISSN0006-8950
2011 Impact Factor: 9.457
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.917
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws138
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorOwens, SF
dc.contributor.authorPicchioni, MM
dc.contributor.authorEttinger, U
dc.contributor.authorMcDonald, C
dc.contributor.authorWalshe, M
dc.contributor.authorSchmechtig, A
dc.contributor.authorMurray, RM
dc.contributor.authorRijsdijk, F
dc.contributor.authorToulopoulou, T
dc.date.accessioned2012-08-16T06:16:20Z
dc.date.available2012-08-16T06:16:20Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThis study sought to systematically investigate whether prefrontal cortex grey matter volume reductions are valid endophenotypes for schizophrenia, specifically investigating their presence in unaffected relatives, heritability, genetic overlap with the disorder itself and finally to contrast their performance on these criteria with putative neuropsychological indices of prefrontal functioning. We used a combined twin and family design and examined four prefrontal cortical regions of interest. Superior and inferior regions were significantly smaller in patients. However, the volumes of these same regions were normal in unaffected relatives and therefore, we could confirm that such deficits were not due to familial effects. Volumes of the prefrontal and orbital cortices were, however, moderately heritable, but neither shared a genetic overlap with schizophrenia. Total prefrontal cortical volume reductions shared a significant unique environmental overlap with the disorder, suggesting that the reductions were not familial. In contrast, prefrontal (executive) functioning deficits were present in the unaffected relatives, were moderately heritable and shared a substantial genetic overlap with liability to schizophrenia. These results suggest that the well recognized prefrontal volume reductions are not related to the same familial influences that increase schizophrenia liability and instead may be attributable to illness related biological changes or indeed confounded by illness trajectory, chronicity, medication or substance abuse, or in fact a combination of some or all of them. © The Author (2012). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved.
dc.description.naturelink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationBrain, 2012, v. 135 n. 7, p. 2231-2244 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws138
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws138
dc.identifier.epage2244
dc.identifier.hkuros205264
dc.identifier.issn0006-8950
2011 Impact Factor: 9.457
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.917
dc.identifier.issue7
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-84863191771
dc.identifier.spage2231
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/160678
dc.identifier.volume135
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherOxford University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofBrain
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.subjectFamily
dc.subjectGenetic
dc.subjectMRI
dc.subjectPrefrontal
dc.subjectTwin
dc.titlePrefrontal deviations in function but not volume are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. UCL
  2. King's College London
  3. Universität Bonn
  4. The University of Hong Kong
  5. National University of Ireland Galway