title: Enlarged cavum septum pellucidum as a neurodevelopmental marker in adolescent-onset opiate dependence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescent-onset exposure to highly addictive substances such as opiates may induce far-reaching deleterious effects on later mental and physical health. However, little is known about the neurodevelopmental basis for adolescent-onset opiate dependence. Here we examined whether having an abnormally large cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), a putative marker of limbic structural maldevelopment, is associated with opiate dependence particularly beginning in adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The overall length of the CSP and the prevalence of abnormal enlargement of the CSP were assessed and compared in 65 opiate-dependent subjects (41 adolescent-onset opiate users and 24 adult-onset opiate users) and 67 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Opiate-dependent subjects showed a greater prevalence of abnormal CSP enlargement relative to healthy subjects (odds ratio [OR]=3.64, p=0.034). The overall CSP length of adolescent-onset opiate-dependent subjects was greater, as compared not only with healthy subjects (F₁,₁₀₄=11.03, p=0.001) but also with those who began opiate use during adulthood (F₁,₆₁=4.43, p=0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings provide the first evidence that abnormal CSP enlargement, which reflects limbic system dysgenesis of neurodevelopmental origin, may be linked to later development of opiate dependence. In addition, a greater CSP length, which indicates more severe limbic abnormalities, appears to confer higher risk for earlier onset of opiate use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jieun E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Perry F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: Sujung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Yurgelun-Todd
authors.forename: Yera
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chansoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: In Kyoon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lyoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers