Cingulate cortex anatomical abnormalities in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
In vivo imaging studies have suggested anatomical and functional abnormalities in the anterior cingulate in adults with mood disorders. This anatomical magnetic resonance imaging study examined the cingulate cortex in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder and matched healthy comparison subjects.


METHODS
Sixteen patients (mean age=15.5 years, SD=3.4) with DSM-IV bipolar disorder and 21 matched healthy comparison subjects (mean age=16.9 years, SD=3.8) were studied. Three-dimensional gradient echo imaging was performed (TR=25 msec, TE=5 msec, slice thickness=1.5 mm) in a 1.5-T GE Signa magnet. Cingulate volumes were compared by using analysis of covariance, with age and intracranial volume as covariates.


RESULTS
The patients with bipolar disorder had significantly smaller mean volumes relative to the healthy subjects in the left anterior cingulate (mean=2.49 cm(3 [SD=0.28] versus 3.60 cm3 [SD=0.12], respectively), left posterior cingulate (2.53 cm3 [SD=0.32] versus 2.89 cm3 [SD=0.09]), and right posterior cingulate (2.19 cm3 [SD=0.13] versus 2.28 cm3 [SD=0.08]). No significant between-group difference was found for the right anterior cingulate (2.64 cm3 [SD=0.21] versus 2.71 cm3 [SD=0.10]).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate smaller cingulate volumes in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, suggesting that such abnormalities may be present early in the illness course.
Kaur
Simerjit
S
Department of Psychiatry, Division of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Sassi
Roberto B
RB
Axelson
David
D
Nicoletti
Mark
M
Brambilla
Paolo
P
Monkul
E Serap
ES
Hatch
John P
JP
Keshavan
Matcheri S
MS
Ryan
Neal
N
Birmaher
Boris
B
Soares
Jair C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008094:Lithium