Cerebellum and psychiatric disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this update article is to report structural and functional neuroimaging studies exploring the potential role of cerebellum in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.


METHODS
A non-systematic literature review was conducted by means of Medline using the following terms as a parameter: "cerebellum", "cerebellar vermis", "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder", "depression", "anxiety disorders", "dementia" and "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder". The electronic search was done up to April 2008.


CONCLUSIONS
Structural and functional cerebellar abnormalities have been reported in many psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, dementia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported smaller total cerebellar and vermal volumes in schizophrenia, mood disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies using cognitive paradigms have shown alterations in cerebellar activity in schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In dementia, the cerebellum is affected in later stages of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrasting with early theories, cerebellum appears to play a major role in different brain functions other than balance and motor control, including emotional regulation and cognition. Future studies are clearly needed to further elucidate the role of cerebellum in both normal and pathological behavior, mood regulation, and cognitive functioning.
Baldaçara
Leonardo
L
Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências Clínicas, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. leonardobaldassara@terra.com.br
Borgio
João Guilherme Fiorani
JG
Lacerda
Acioly Luiz Tavares de
AL
Jackowski
Andrea Parolin
AP
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology