The thalamus, the brain's main sensory filter, is dysfunctional in the earliest stages of schizophrenia. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2001;158:116-8) shows for the first time that thalamic abnormalities are present close to the onset of psychosis. These findings may explain why people with schizophrenia experience confusion during their illness.

The thalamus, the area where information is received and relayed to other areas of the brain, is of particular interest in schizophrenia because of the part it plays in processing information. People with schizophrenia often have difficulties in processing information properly and as a result may end up with an information overload in some areas of the brain.

The study involved 67 participants: 38 were experiencing their first episode of psychosis and 29 were healthy volunteers. In contrast to other studies, which have looked at the thalamus of chronically ill patients, the patients in this study had had no or only minimal exposure to antipsychotic medication.

Magnetic resonance imaging identified differences in the thalamus between the two groups. The study found that even in the earliest stages of schizophrenia the thalamus was smaller than in healthy people.

These findings suggest that there is a role for brain imaging in pinpointing warning signs of the illness. Full story in Web Extra at studentbmj.com

pic pic pic The R W Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute submitted a new drug application for a seven day contraceptive patch last month. The Ortho Evra weekly patch can be worn on a woman's lower abdomen or buttocks