title: Lithium treatment and hippocampal subfields and amygdala volumes in bipolar disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Results from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are heterogeneous with regard to hippocampal and amygdala volume alterations in bipolar disorder (BD). Lithium treatment may influence both structures. It is unknown if lithium treatment has distinct effects on hippocampal subfield volumes and if subfield volumes change over the course of illness in BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI scans were obtained for 34 lithium-treated patients with BD (Li+), 147 patients with BD who were not treated with lithium (Non-Li), and 300 healthy controls. Hippocampal total and subfield volumes and amygdala volumes were automatically estimated using Freesurfer. General linear models were used to investigate volume differences between groups and the effects of illness course and lithium treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Non-Li BD group displayed significantly smaller bilateral cornu ammonis (CA) 2/3 and CA4/dentate gyrus (DG) subfields, total hippocampal volumes, right CA1 and right subiculum subfields, and left amygdala volume compared to healthy controls. There were no differences between the Li+ BD and either the Non-Li BD or the healthy control groups. In patients with numerous affective episodes, Non-Li BD patients had smaller left CA1 and CA2/3 volumes compared to Li+ BD patients and healthy controls. There were positive associations between lithium treatment duration and left amygdala volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hippocampal subfield and amygdala volumes were reduced in Non-Li BD patients compared to healthy controls, whereas the Li+ BD volumes were no different from those in Non-Li BD patients or healthy controls. Over the course of BD, lithium treatment might counteract reductions specifically in the left CA1 and CA2/3 hippocampal subfields and amygdala volumes, in accordance with the suggested neuroprotective effects of lithium.
authors: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Cecilie Bhandari
authors: CB
authors: Hartberg
authors: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Kjetil Nordbø
authors: KN
authors: Jørgensen
authors: NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Unn Kristin
authors: UK
authors: Haukvik
authors: NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Lars Tjelta
authors: LT
authors: Westlye
authors: NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Melle
authors: NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Ole Andreas
authors: OA
authors: Andreassen
authors: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|NORMENT/K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Agartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009929:Organ Size; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents
keywords: MRI; adult; affective episodes; cross-sectional; illness course; illness duration; neuroimaging methods