Reduced cortical thickness in right Heschl’s gyrus associated with auditory verbal hallucinations severity in first-episode schizophrenia

Authors

Xudong Chen, Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry, China
Shengxiang Liang, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Analysis Techniques, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
Weidan Pu, Medical Psychological Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
Yinnan Song, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Analysis Techniques, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
Tumbwene Mwansisya, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Qing Yang, Department of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Haihong Liu, Mental Health Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
Zhening Liu, Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Central South University, China
Baoci Shan, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Analysis Techniques, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
Zhimin Xue, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Analysis Techniques, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China

Document Type

Article

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa

Abstract

Background: Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) represent one of the most intriguing phenomena in schizophrenia, however, brain abnormalities underlying AVHs remain unclear. The present study examined the association between cortical thickness and AVHs in first-episode schizophrenia.

Method: High-resolution MR images were obtained in 49 first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and 50 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). Among the FES patients, 18 suffered persistent AVHs (“auditory hallucination” AH group), and 31 never experienced AVHs (“no hallucination” NH group). The severity of AVHs was rated by the Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale (AHRS). Cortical thickness differences among the three groups and their association with AVHs severity were examined.

Results: Compared to both HCs and NH patients, AH patients showed lower cortical thickness in the right Heschl’s gyrus. The degree of reduction in the cortical thickness was correlated with AVH severity in the AH patients.

Conclusions: Abnormalities of cortical thickness in the Heschl’s gyrus may be a physiological factor underlying auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

BMC psychiatry

Recommended Citation

Chen, X., Liang, S., Pu, W., Song, Y., Mwansisya, T. E., Yang, Q., ... & Xue, Z. (2015). Reduced cortical thickness in right Heschl’s gyrus associated with auditory verbal hallucinations severity in first-episode schizophrenia. BMC psychiatry, 15(1), 1-8.