Verbal memory and hippocampal volumes in young patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, meta-analysis
Abstract
Memory deficiency and a smaller hippocampus are common findings in patients with schizophrenia, but less frequently, these findings are evaluated in a single study. the aim of the study was to quantitatively evaluate the deficit of verbal memory, hippocampal volumes and their relationship in young individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. t o search for works published in the Medline database since 2000, the following keywords were chosen: schizophrenia, hippocampus, memory, MRI. Out of 273 abstracts, 76 articles were selected, from which 6 works with 206 patients and 239 controls were included in the analysis. the difference between the groups was expressed as the standardized mean difference, and Fisher's Z-score was used for the relationship between hippocampal volume and memory.
Meta-analysis showed a significant memory deficit in patients: Cohen's d -1,04 (p= 0,001), as well as smaller left and right hippocampus: Cohen's d -0,39 (p < 0,004), respectively. Cohen's d -0,39 (p = 0,001). left hippocampal volume positively correlated with verbal memory Fisher's z = 0,43 (p = 0,000). young patients with schizophrenia have a significant deficit in verbal memory and a reduced volume of both hippocampi compared to peers.
Verbal memory correlates with left hippocampal volume. hippocampal interventions could be a way to improve memory in patients with schizophrenia.