Evidence of disturbed amygdalar energy metabolism in patients with borderline personality disorder.
In order to detect possible links between structural and neurochemical brain abnormalities we applied high resolution morphometric imaging and short-echo time absolute-quantification magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at the left hand side to the amygdala in 12 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and 10 group-matched healthy controls. Confirming earlier reports we found a significant 11-17% reduction of amygdalar volumes in patients with BPD. In addition there was a significant 17% increase of left amygdalar creatine concentrations in BPD patients. Left amygdalar creatine concentration correlated positively with measures of anxiety and negatively with amygdalar volume. This pilot study of simultaneous amygdalar morphometry and spectroscopy in BPD reveals a possible link between amygdalar volume loss, psychopathology and neurochemical abnormalities in terms of creatine signals.
Tebartz van Elst
L
L
South German Brain Imaging Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. tebartzvanelst@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Ludaescher
P
P
Thiel
T
T
Büchert
M
M
Hesslinger
B
B
Bohus
M
M
Rüsch
N
N
Hennig
J
J
Ebert
D
D
Lieb
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D003401:Creatine