Relation with corpus callosum volume and negative symptoms in first attack psychosis: Retrospective magnetic resonance imaging study

Aim: In first attack psychosis, the disruption of the communication between two brain zemispheres and psychosis symptomatology relation has not been investigate clearly. In this study, the corpus callosum volume measured and analyzed with first attack psychosis symptomatology. Methods: Study was a case-control research. First attack psychosis cases and controls recruited from Dokuz Eylul university Medical Faculty Department of psychiatry inpatient clinic and radiology archives. Study was a retrospective research. Patients were assessed with PANSS. Corpus callosum, which is the main connection between two hemispheres, was investigated via magnetic resonance imaging.27 first attcak psychosis patients and 29 healthy volunteers were acquired via 1.5 T MR. Corpus callosum volumes of two groups, measured on the magnetic resonance images, were compared. PANSS scores and corpus callosum volume correlations investigated with Spearman Rho correlation. Results: It was found that corpus callosum volume was lower in the the first attack psychosis patients than the healthy controls. Moreover, a significant negative correlation between the corpus callosum volume and emotional withdrawal scores were found. Also a significant positive correlation between the corpus callosum volume and hallucinations were found. Conclusion: Corpus callosum is the most important structure that connects two frontal lobes. The hypothesis that showed the fundamental role of the disconnection of frontal lobes in first attack psychosis is supported by the findings of this study. Emotional withdrawal related with corpus callosum decreased volume even in first attack psychosis, and hallucinations related with increased corpus callosum volume. Corpus callosum volume changes may related with first attack psychosis symptomatology.