Open AccessFetal Alcohol Syndrome and Secondary Schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Catherine Stoos,
Laura Nelsen,
Kathryn Schissler,
Amy J. Elliott,
Hannah C. Kinney
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1702-6075
pISSN - 0883-0738
DOI - 10.1177/0883073814520976
Subject(s) - temporal lobe , fetal alcohol syndrome , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , fetus , psychology , neuroscience , psychosis , gestation , psychiatry , medicine , alcohol , pregnancy , biology , epilepsy , biochemistry , genetics
We report the unique neuropathologic study of an adult brain of a patient with fetal alcohol syndrome who developed the well-recognized complication of schizophrenia in adolescence. The major finding was asymmetric formation of the lateral temporal lobes, with marked enlargement of the right superior temporal gyrus, suggesting that alcohol is preferentially toxic to temporal lobe patterning during gestation. Critical maturational changes unique to adolescence can unmask psychotic symptomatology mediated by temporal lobe pathology that has been clinically dormant since birth. Elucidating the neuropathologic basis of the secondary psychiatric disorders in fetal alcohol syndrome can help provide insight into their putative developmental origins.