Midline brain abnormalities in established bipolar affective disorder.
Takahashi T, Malhi GS, Wood SJ, Yücel M, Walterfang M, Nakamura K, Suzuki M, Pantelis C
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Victoria, Australia. tsutomu@med.u-toyama.ac.jp
BACKGROUND: Morphologic changes of cortico-limbic regions have been reported in bipolar disorder, but it remains unclear whether midline brain abnormalities relevant to cortico-limbic connectivity are also present. METHODS: We used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the size of the adhesio interthalamica (AI) and cavum septi pellucidi (CSP), as well as third ventricular volume, in 26 patients with bipolar I disorder and 24 matched controls. RESULTS: CSP length and prevalence of a large CSP did not differ between the groups, but bipolar patients had significantly shorter AI and larger third ventricles compared to controls. LIMITATIONS: A comprehensive investigation of medication effects was not possible due to incomplete medication data. CONCLUSIONS: These findings implicate a role for the AI and connected brain regions in the neurobiology of bipolar disorder.
Published 29 March 2010 in J Affect Disord, 122(3): 301-5.
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