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The aim of this study was to compare the gray matter segments from T1 structural MR images of the brain in first-episode schizophrenic subjects (n = 34) and normal control subjects (n = 36) using automated voxel-based morphometry (VBM). This study is novel in that few studies have examined subjects in their first episode of schizophrenia. The subjects were recruited for the Edinburgh High Risk project and regional brain volumes were previously measured using a semi-automated volumetric region of interest (ROI) method of analysis. The primary interest was to compare the results from the compatible parts of the ROI study and the primary VBM approach. Our secondary interest was to compare the results of a study-specific template that was constructed from the control group to those using the generic T1 template (152 Montreal Neurological Institute brains) supplied with SPM99 (statistical parametric mapping …