biostudies-literatureUnknown193(1)Zanetti MVWellcome Trust<h4>Background</h4>White-matter hyperintensities have been associated with both schizophrenia and mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, but results are inconsistent across studies.<h4>Aims</h4>To examine whether white-matter hyperintensities are a vulnerability marker for psychosis or are specifically associated with bipolar disorder.<h4>Method</h4>T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in 129 individuals with first-episode psychosis (either affective or non-affective psychoses) and 102 controls who were randomly selected from the same geographical areas. Visual white-matter hyperintensity ratings were used for group and subgroup comparisons.<h4>Results</h4>There were no statistically significant between-group differences in white-matter hyperintensity frequency or severity scores. No significant correlations were found between white-matter hyperintensity scores and duration of illness, duration of untreated psychosis, or severity of psychotic, manic or depressive symptoms.<h4>Conclusions</h4>White-matter hyperintensities are not associated with vulnerability to psychosis in general, or specifically with affective psychoses. Further, first-episode psychosis investigations using more quantitative methods are warranted to confirm these findings.The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science25-30https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2802525biostudies-literatureWhite-matter hyperintensities in first-episode psychosis.PMC2802525Busatto GFZanetti MVde Castro CCScazufca MMurray RMMenezes PRSchaufelberger MSMcGuire PKfalseWhite-matter hyperintensities in first-episode psychosis.<h4>Background</h4>White-matter hyperintensities have been associated with both schizophrenia and mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, but results are inconsistent across studies.<h4>Aims</h4>To examine whether white-matter hyperintensities are a vulnerability marker for psychosis or are specifically associated with bipolar disorder.<h4>Method</h4>T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in 129 individuals with first-episode psychosis (either affective or non-affective psychoses) and 102 controls who were randomly selected from the same geographical areas. Visual white-matter hyperintensity ratings were used for group and subgroup comparisons.<h4>Results</h4>There were no statistically significant between-group differences in white-matter hyperintensity frequency or severity scores. No significant correlations were found between white-matter hyperintensity scores and duration of illness, duration of untreated psychosis, or severity of psychotic, manic or depressive symptoms.<h4>Conclusions</h4>White-matter hyperintensities are not associated with vulnerability to psychosis in general, or specifically with affective psychoses. Further, first-episode psychosis investigations using more quantitative methods are warranted to confirm these findings.2008-01-01T00:00:00Z2008 Jul2025-04-18T13:19:03.181Z2019-03-27T00:27:46ZS-EPMC28025251870021410.1192/bjp.bp.107.038901