title: Corpus callosum changes in euthymic bipolar affective disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes in corpus callosum area and thickness have been reported in bipolar disorder. Imaging and limited neuropathological data suggest possible abnormalities in myelination and/or glial function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare corpus callosum area, thickness and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1 signal intensity in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 48 patients with euthymic bipolar disorder and 46 healthy controls underwent MRI analysis of callosal midsagittal area, callosal thickness and T1 signal intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bipolar group had smaller overall and subregional callosal areas and correspondingly reduced callosal width than the control group. Age correlated negatively with callosal area in the control group but not in the bipolar group. Signal intensity was higher in women than in men in both groups. Signal intensity was reduced in women, but not in men, in the bipolar group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observed differences probably relate to diagnosis rather than mood state and bipolar disorder appears to result in morphometric change that overrides changes seen in normal ageing. Intensity changes are consistent with possible altered myelination or glial function. A gender-dependent factor appears to operate and to interact with diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Adrian J. Lloyd, MB, BS, MRCPsych, MD (Hons), Heba E. Ali, MB, BS, Mphil, David Nesbitt, BSc (Hons), MB, BS, P. Brian Moore, PhD, MB, BS, FRCPsych, Allan H. Young, MB, ChB, MPhil, PhD, FRCPsych, FRCPS, I. Nicol Ferrier, BSc(Hons), MD (Hons), FRCP(Ed), FRCPsych, Psychobiology Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Heba E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nesbitt
authors.forename: P Brian
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Allan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: I Nicol
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Ferrier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds