Effects of antipsychotics on brain structure

Purpose of review This review highlights the recent findings of different effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on brain structure. Recent findings Studies examining the effect of treatment with typical antipsychotics on brain structure revealed a significant increase in basal ganglia volumes and decreased grey matter volume in different cortical regions. These volume changes were detectable even after a 12-week treatment. In contrast to these results, treatment with atypical antipsychotics does not seem to change basal ganglia volumes in neuroleptic-naive patients. Moreover, switching from typical to atypical antipsychotic treatment reduces the increased basal ganglia volume to normal values compared with healthy controls. Only the volumes of thalamus and cortical grey matter increased after atypical antipsychotic treatment. Summary Currently, there is growing evidence that atypical antipsychotics might ameliorate structural changes caused by the disease process underlying schizophrenia and effects of typical antipsychotics. Further studies have to investigate the mechanism leading to these varying effects on brain structure.