A recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry highlights the connection between schizophrenia symptom diversity and structural changes in the brain.
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder affecting perception, cognition, and emotions, with symptomatology varying among patients. Some individuals predominantly experience perceptual disturbances, while others struggle with cognitive impairments. “In this sense, there is not just one schizophrenia, but many, each with different neurobiological profiles,” explains Wolfgang Omlor, senior physician at the University Psychiatric Hospital Zurich. This diversity underscores the need for precision medicine approaches tailored to distinct neurobiological patterns.
Researchers emphasize the importance of analyzing individual differences and commonalities in brain structure. “This requires approaches that look for individual differences and similarities at the neurobiological level,” adds Omlor. This principle guided a large-scale international study examining brain morphology in schizophrenia patients.
The study, conducted within the global ENIGMA project, analyzed MRI scans from over 6,000 participants across 22 countries. Scientists assessed cortical thickness, surface area, gyrification patterns, and subcortical volumes. By comparing schizophrenia patients with healthy controls, researchers achieved highly reliable findings.
A key discovery was the structural homogeneity of brain folds in the middle frontal cortex, indicating a shared developmental trait in schizophrenia. The brain’s gyrification process, which concludes in early childhood, appears less adaptable in these patients. This suggests that early neurodevelopmental alterations may contribute to the disorder.
Regions responsible for integrating cognition and emotions are particularly affected. “These findings expand our understanding of the neurobiological basis of schizophrenia,” notes Professor Philipp Homan from the University of Zurich. While uniform brain structures may reveal common disease mechanisms, highly variable regions could inform personalized treatment strategies. This research opens new possibilities for individualized therapies, enhancing the precision of schizophrenia interventions.
