abnormal brain structures

• Schizophrenia

  A mental disorder that affects multiple areas or structures of the brain
• Enlarged ventricles


  • One of the primary brain structures affected in schizophrenia
  • Fluid-filled spaces in the brain
  • 80% of individuals with schizophrenia have been found to have enlarged ventricles
  • The most frequently reported brain structural change in schizophrenia
• ao3 - MRI research support (1)

  provides evidence as to abnormal brain structures playing a role in the development of schizophrenia
• ao3 - MRI research support (2)

  contradictory: evidence of enlarged ventricles occurring in people without schizophrenia and not being present in those with schizophrenia

  reduces reliability as it does not account for all patients or individual differences
• ao3 - direction of causation (brain structures) (1)

  question as to whether enlarged ventricles are a consequence of suffering from schizophrenia over a long period of time or a cause of it
• ao3 - direction of causation (brain structures) (2)

  Ho et al. (2003) - longitudinal study - MRIs taken of recent-onset schizophrenics and repeated 3 years later - brain damage/structural changes would worsen over time

  leads to the conclusion that abnormal brain structures could be both a cause and consequence of schizophrenia/the medication used to treat it