Differential mood changes following basal ganglia vs thalamic lesions.
Patients with computed tomographic scan-verified unilateral lesions in the basal ganglia or thalamus were examined for the presence of poststroke mood disorders. Patients with left-sided basal ganglia lesions (mainly in the head of the caudate nucleus) showed a significantly higher frequency and severity of depression, as compared with patients with right-sided basal ganglia or thalamic (left- or right-sided) lesions. Results suggest that damage to biogenic amine pathways and/or frontocaudate projections may play an important role in the modulation of mood.
Starkstein
S E
SE
Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Robinson
R G
RG
Berthier
M L
ML
Parikh
R M
RM
Price
T R
TR
D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*