Ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia as measured by ventricular-
brain ratio (VBR) has been described by three different research groups.
Because of the possibility that the samples might not be representative of
the broad population of schizophrenic patients, questions have been raised
about generalizability. The authors report on ventricular enlargement in a
rigorously defined but representative sample of schizophrenic patients
intermittently hospitalized but living in the community. They provide
additional evidence that ventricular enlargement does occur in
schizophrenic patients, although not at rates as high as those previously
reported. Issues related to the definition of ventricular enlargement, as
well as the effects of sampling and choice of a control group, are
discussed.Abstract Teaser