Smaller Nasal Volumes as Stigmata of Aberrant Neurodevelopment in Schizophrenia

American Journal of Psychiatry, 2004

Authors: Moberg, P.J, Roalf, D.R,
Gur, R.E., Turetsky, B.I.

Method: ” A measurement of nasal volume was acquired by acoustic rhinometry for 40 male schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy male comparison subjects.”

Results: “The patients had smaller posterior nasal volume than the comparison subjects but did not differ in anterior nasal volumes. This difference persisted after covarying for height and smoking history.

Conclusions: “The lower observed posterior nasal volume likely reflects a specific developmental craniofacial abnormality. This finding confirms an early disruption in embryological development in males with schizophrenia and may represent a genetic or environmental “first hit” that leaves the individual vulnerable to subsequent pathology.”