title: Subcortical brain volumes relate to neurocognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Similar patterns of subcortical brain abnormalities and neurocognitive dysfunction have been demonstrated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with more extensive findings in schizophrenia. It is unknown whether relationships between subcortical volumes and neurocognitive performance are similar or different between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI scans and neuropsychological test performance were obtained from 117 schizophrenia or 121 bipolar spectrum disorder patients and 192 healthy control subjects. Using the FreeSurfer software, volumes of 18 selected subcortical structures were automatically segmented and analyzed for relationships with results from 7 neurocognitive tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In schizophrenia, larger left ventricular volumes were related to poorer motor speed, and bilateral putamen volumes were related to poorer verbal learning, executive functioning and working memory performance. In bipolar disorder, larger left ventricular volumes were related to poorer motor speed and executive functioning. The relationship between left putamen volume and working memory was specific to schizophrenia. The relationships between left inferior lateral ventricles and motor speed and between right putamen volumes and executive functioning were similar in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and different from healthy controls. The results remained significant after corrections for use of antipsychotic medication. Significant structure-function relationships were also found when all subjects were combined into one group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that there are differences as well as similarities in subcortical structure/function relationships between patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and healthy individuals. The observed differences further suggest that ventricular and putamen volume sizes may reflect severity of cognitive dysfunction in these disorders.
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry Section, University of Oslo, Norway. c.b.hartberg@medisin.uio.no
authors: Cecilie B
authors: CB
authors: Hartberg
authors: Kjetil
authors: K
authors: Sundet
authors: Lars M
authors: LM
authors: Rimol
authors: Unn K
authors: UK
authors: Haukvik
authors: Elisabeth H
authors: EH
authors: Lange
authors: Ragnar
authors: R
authors: Nesvåg
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Melle
authors: Ole A
authors: OA
authors: Andreassen
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Agartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives