| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2003 | Volume
: 51
| Issue : 2 | Page : 189--192 |
Measuring the corpus callosum in schizophrenia: a technique with neuroanatomical and cytoarchtectural basis
G Venkatasubramanian1, PN Jayakumar1, BN Gangadhar2, N Janakiramaiah1, DK Subbakrishna3, MS Keshavan4
1 Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
2 Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
3 Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
4 Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593
Correspondence Address:
B N Gangadhar
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore-560029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 14571000 
Background: Corpus Callosum (CC) abnormalities have been described in schizophrenia. Review of CC measurement methods in schizophrenia reveals inconsistency and lack of neuroanatomical basis. Aims: The aims of the study are to describe a new CC measurement method with valid a neuroanatomical and cytoarchitectural basis and to demonstrate inter-rater reliability for the same. Settings and Design: The study was performed in the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. Ours is a cross-sectional study in which both the first author and senior neuroradiologist were blind to clinical details. Material and Methods: We report a reliable, semi-automated CC measuring technique with a neuroanatomical and cytoarchitectural basis tested in a group of 16 never-treated schizophrenia patients using 1-mm thick, objectively defined midsagittal MRI section. Measurement on coded slices using scion image software ensured elimination of rater bias. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis used for assessing inter-rater reliability is intraclass correlation coefficient analysis. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients for the CC measurements were as follows: CC Area = 0.93; Anterior CC area = 0.84; Area of body of the CC = 0.83; Area of CC isthmus = 0.65; Area of CC splenium = 0.88; maximum antero-posterior distance of CC = 0.96. Conclusion: Measurements showed good inter-rater reliability. The methodology demonstrated in our study is simple, relevant, reliable and can be used for future schizophrenia research.
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