Volume alterations of the hippocampus and amygdala in patients with schizophrenia and persistent auditory hallucinations

Marta Perez-Rando; Carlota Penades-Gomiz; Pablo Martinez-Marin; Gracián García-Martí; Eduardo J Aguilar; Maria J Escarti; Eva Grasa; Iluminada Corripio; Julio Sanjuan; Juan Nacher

doi:10.1016/j.rpsm.2023.05.002

Volume alterations of the hippocampus and amygdala in patients with schizophrenia and persistent auditory hallucinations

Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment. 2023 Jul 3:S1888-9891(23)00014-9. doi: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2023.05.002. Online ahead of print.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Institute of Research of the Clinic Hospital from Valencia (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.
³ Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Quironsalud Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Psychiatry Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
⁵ Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Institute of Research of the Clinic Hospital from Valencia (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain; Psychiatry Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
⁶ Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Mental Health, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain.
⁷ Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Mental Health, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health and Psychiatry Department, Vic Hospital Consortium, Catalonia, Spain.
⁸ Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain; Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Institute of Research of the Clinic Hospital from Valencia (INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37495479
DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2023.05.002

Abstract

Introduction: Auditory hallucinations (AH) are one of the most prevalent symptoms of schizophrenia. They might cause several brain alterations, especially changes in the volumes of hippocampus and amygdala, regions related to the relay and processing of auditory cues and emotional memories.

Material and methods: We have recruited 41 patients with schizophrenia and persistent AH, 35 patients without AH, and 55 healthy controls. Using their MRIs, we have performed semiautomatic segmentations of the hippocampus and amygdala using Freesurfer. We have also performed bilateral correlations between the total PSYRATS score and the volumes of affected subregions and nuclei.

Results: In the hippocampus, we found bilateral increases in the volume of its hippocampal fissure and decreases in the right fimbria in patients with and without AH. The volume of the right hippocampal tail and left head of the granule cell layer from the dentate gyrus were decreased in patients with AH. In the amygdala, we found its left total volume was shrunk, and there was a decrease of its left accessory basal nucleus in patients with AH.

Conclusions: We have detected volume alterations of different limbic structures likely due to the presence of AH. The volumes of the right hippocampal tail and left head of the granule cell layer from the dentate gyrus, and total volume of the amygdala and its accessory basal nucleus, were only affected in patients with AH. Bilateral volume alterations in the hippocampal fissure and right fimbria seem inherent of schizophrenia and due to traits not contemplated in our research.

Keywords: Alucinaciones auditivas; Amygdala; Amígdala; Auditory hallucinations; Esquizofrenia; Hipocampo; Hippocampus; Schizophrenia; Segmentación; Segmentation.