title: Structural studies of the hypothalamus and its nuclei in mood disorders.
abstract: A large body of evidence indicates that the hypothalamus is involved in pathogenetic mechanisms of mood disorders. It has been suggested that functional abnormalities of the hypothalamus are associated with structural hypothalamic changes. Structural neuroimaging allows in vivo investigation of the hypothalamus that may shed light on the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of unipolar and bipolar disorder. Clearly, the detection of subtle structural cerebral changes depends on the limitations of the neuroimaging technique used. Making a comprehensive database search, we reviewed the literature on hypothalamic macrostructure in affective disorders, addressing the specific question of what structural magnetic resonance imaging might be expected to show. Studies with convincing methodology, although rare, suggest a global volume decrease in the hypothalamus in affective disorders, a decrease which is not shown by the two specific nuclei investigated, the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. We discuss the implications of these findings and provide directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strauß
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anwander
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hegerl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schönknecht
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology