title: Volumetric alterations in the nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus in bulimia nervosa: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors (such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain. BN has been associated with deficits in inhibitory control processes. The basal ganglia specifically, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the caudate nucleus (CN) are part of the frontostriatal circuits involved in inhibitory control. The main goal of this study was to investigate the presence of morphological alterations in the NAc and the CN in a sample of patients diagnosed with BN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one female participants, 21 diagnosed with BN and 20 healthy matched controls (HC), underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and clinical assessment. The NAc and the CN were manually segmented using the software Slicer 3D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results reveal a significant volumetric decrease in the CN and a preserved NAc volume in BN compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a contributory role of the caudate nucleus part of the dorsal striatum in the psychopathology of BN.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Ana Filipa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geliebter
authors.forename: Paulo P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Óscar
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size
keywords: bulimia nervosa; caudate nucleus; magnetic resonance imaging; manual segmentation; nucleus accumbens