Review: Involvement of the Cavum Septi Pellucidi and the Fornix in the Neuropathology of Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders

The septal region, including the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP), and the fornix are part of the limbic system. The majority of MRI- and postmortem studies indicate that enlarged CSP are implicated in the pathology of schizophrenia, but the majority of MRI-studies show that enlarged CSP are not involved in the pathology of bipolar and major depressive disorders. The MRI and post-mortem studies on the role of the fornix in schizophrenia point to a discrepancy in the results. Our review of the role of the CSP in schizophrenia and affective disorders summarizes 29 studies and one meta-analysis. Furthermore, our review of the involvement of the fornix in schizophrenia and affective disorders evaluates 14 studies and one meta-analysis. The discrepancies in the results of the CSP and the fornix might be explained by differences in the methods and sample sizes as well by publication bias.