Neuroanatomic characterization of schizoaffective disorder using MRI: a pilot study.

For over 50 years, there has been uncertainty in the conceptual understanding and neuropathogenesis of the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder (SCA). In order to better characterize SCA, we performed a quantitative assessment of MRI neuroanatomical structures in patients with SCA (n = 12), compared to patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) (n = 12) and healthy volunteers (HV) (n = 12). Patients diagnosed with SCA exhibited regional abnormalities on the striatum that resemble those seen in BPD. This study suggests that SCA has some neuroanatomical characteristics similar to BPD.