Concerns Regarding Strength of Conclusions in Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Neuroradiological Abnormalities in First-Episode Psychosis

To the Editor I recently cared for a patient with first-episode psychosis (FEP) with an otherwise normal neurological examination. The provocative meta-analysis by Blackman et al prompted me to reflect on the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in such cases. The authors ’ analysis suggests that 1 in 18 patients with FEP had a “clinically relevant abnormality,” and advocate for routine MRI scans in initial assessments. However, the study’s findings warrant reversal of the resultant implications for 3 critical reasons.
Source: JAMA Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research