Cited by 121Schizophrenia research and treatmentBipolar Disorder and TreatmentPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

Overlapping and Segregating Structural Brain Abnormalities in Twins With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder

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van Baal, G. Caroline M.·2012·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

CONTEXT: The nosologic dichotomy between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) as formulated by Kraepelin is currently being questioned, stimulated by the finding that schizophrenia and BD partly share a common genetic origin. Although both disorders are characterized by changes in brain structure, family studies suggest more segregating than overlapping neuroanatomical abnormalities in both disorders. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether patients with schizophrenia and patients with BD display overlapping abnormalities in brain volumes and cortical thickness and whether these are caused by shared genetic or environmental influences. DESIGN: Magnetic resonance imaging findings of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, twin pairs concordant and discordant for BD, and healthy twin pairs were compared using structural equation modeling. SETTING: The Netherlands Twin Register and University Medical Center Utrecht. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 310 individuals from 158 (152 complete and 6 incomplete) twin pairs were included: 26 pairs discordant for schizophrenia (13 MZ and 13 DZ), 49 pairs with BD (9 MZ and 4 DZ concordant; 14 MZ and 22 DZ discordant), and 83 healthy twin pairs (44 MZ and 39 DZ). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimates of additive genetic and unique environmental associations between schizophrenia and BD with overlapping and nonoverlapping volumes and cortical thickness. RESULTS: Higher genetic liabilities for schizophrenia and BD were associated with smaller white matter volume, thinner right (and left) parahippocampus, thinner right orbitofrontal cortex, and thicker temporoparietal and left superior motor cortices; higher environmental liabilities were associated with thinner right medial occipital cortex. Genetic liability for schizophrenia was associated with thicker right parietal cortex; for BD, with larger intracranial volume. CONCLUSIONS: Brain structures reflect overlapping and segregating genetic liabilities for schizophrenia and BD. The overlapping smaller white matter volume and common areas of thinner cortex suggest that both disorders share genetic (neurodevelopmental) roots.

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Authors
van Baal, G. C. M.
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2012-04-01
Volume
69
Issue
4
Pages
349
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2169951970
Cited by
121
References
68
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 4
FWCI
10.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Keywords
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, structural brain abnormalities, brain volume, cortical thickness, monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, genetic susceptibility, white matter volume, parahippocampal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, intracranial volume, neurodevelopmental origin
MeSH terms
Adult, Atrophy, Bipolar Disorder, Brain, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Hypertrophy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Netherlands, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Models, Statistical, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Gene-Environment Interaction, Neuroimaging

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