The Study of Brain CT Scan Findings of Psychotic Patients Referred to Baharan Hospital, Zahedan-Iran, in ۲۰۲۲: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: The assessment of psychiatric patients has traditionally been a major challenge. Despite reports regarding structural abnormalities in psychotic patients’ brain imaging, further studies are needed in this respect. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the findings of brain computed tomography (CT) scans of these patients at Baharan Hospital, Zahedan. Methods: In this study, ۱۲۴ patients presenting to Baharan Hospital in ۲۰۲۲-۲۰۲۳ and undergoing brain CT scanning following a clinical diagnosis of psychosis and for other reasons were equally assigned to the case and control groups, respectively. The examined data included the total cortex, frontal cortex, temporal cortex, lateral ventricle size, third ventricle size, pineal calcification, and the presence of cavum septum pellucidum. Results: The mean age of the subjects was ۳۳.۲۶±۱۲.۹۱ years at the time of the study. There was no difference in age (P=۰.۵۶۸) and gender (P=۰.۳۱۸) between the two groups. The extent of total cortical atrophy in psychotic patients and the control group was statistically significant (P=۰.۰۵۴). Moreover, frontal (P<۰.۰۰۱) and temporal (P=۰.۰۱۹) cortical atrophy were substantially more common in the psychotic group than in the control group. Additionally, the mean diameter of the lateral ventricles (P=۰.۰۰۵) and the third ventricle (P=۰.۰۱۲) was significantly larger in the psychotic group. Eventually, the frequency of pineal (P=۰.۳۹۰) and cavum septum pellucidum calcifications was similar in the two groups (P>۰.۹۹۹). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the atrophy of some brain regions (the frontal and temporal lobes) is more prevalent in psychotic patients than in normal individuals.