H proton MR Spectroscopy in Schizophrenia Study, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre

Data from our own cross-sectional MRI work has identified bilaterally smaller hippocampal volumes in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia, while "high-risk" mindividuals did not eiffer from normal controls. This finding calls into question the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.'H Proton MRS provides measures of neuronal integrity and density (NAA) while choline represents a major component of the myelin in the brain. Using MRS this study will examine the neural and non-neuronal elements of the hippocampus to assess the relative contribution of these elements to changes in hippocampal volume. This study will examine 30 patients from three groups ("high-risk, first-episode, chronic schizophrenia) and matched healthy controls. The high-risk group and 15 controls will be re-assessed after the onset of psychosis. Patients will be recruited from EPPIC and PACE clinics at Orygen Youth Health. Controls will be recruited via an database established from previous research.