title: Neuroanatomy of childhood disruptive behavior disorders.
abstract: Our aims were to (1) examine possible neuroanatomical abnormalities associated with the Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBDs) as a group and (2) assess neuroanatomical anomalies specific to each DBD (i.e., conduct disorder [CD] and oppositional defiant disorder). Cortical thickness analysis and voxel-based morphometry were analyzed in 47 8-year-old boys (22 DBDs with and without CD and/or ODD and 25 healthy controls) from Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans. DBD symptoms were assessed using the Dominic-R. In DBD subjects relative to controls, we found (1) a decreased overall mean cortical thickness; (2) thinning of the cingulate, prefrontal and insular cortices; and (3) decreased gray matter density (GMd) in the same brain regions. We also found that scores on the Dominic-R were negatively correlated with GMd in the prefrontal and precuneus/superior temporal regions. There was a subdiagnostic main effect for CD, related to thinning of the middle/medial frontal, and for ODD in the left rectal/orbitofrontal. Findings suggest that thinning and decreased GMd of the insula disorganizes prefrontal circuits, diminishing the inhibitory influence of the prefrontal cortex on anger, aggression, cruelty, and impulsivity, and increasing a person's likelihood of aggressive behavior. These findings have implications for pathophysiologic models of the DBDs, their diagnostic classification system, and for designing more effective intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Politics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. cherine.fahim@unil.ch
authors.forename: Cherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahim
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Uicheul
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérusse
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000786:Anger; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male