Structural Brain Correlates of Psychosis in First-Episode Patients: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital

Structural neuroimaging studies of first-episode psychosis provide valuable insight into neurodevelopmental abnormalities underlying psychotic disorders, yet African-based MRI evidence remains scarce. This study examines structural brain correlates of first-episode psychosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A case-control design will compare 40 patients with first-episode psychosis against 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Structural MRI data will be acquired on a 1.5 Tesla scanner at ABUTH's radiology department. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and manual volumetric methods will assess grey matter volume in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and cognitive assessments will be correlated with structural findings. Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) will be documented as a potential moderator of brain morphology. This study directly responds to the absence of neuroscientific first-episode data from North West Nigeria and will generate evidence to support the development of neuropsychiatry research infrastructure at ABUTH. Keywords: first-episode psychosis, MRI, structural neuroimaging, Ahmadu Bello University, brain morphology