title: Abnormalities of cortical structures in adolescent-onset conduct disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Converging evidence has revealed both functional and structural abnormalities in adolescents with early-onset conduct disorder (EO-CD). The neurological abnormalities underlying EO-CD may be different from that of adolescent-onset conduct disorder (AO-CD) patients. However, the cortical structure in AO-CD patients remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cortical alterations in AO-CD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated T1-weighted brain images from AO-CD patients and age-, gender- and intelligence quotient-matched controls. Cortical structures including thickness, folding and surface area were measured using the surface-based morphometric method. Furthermore, we assessed impulsivity and antisocial symptoms using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the controls, we found significant cortical thinning in the paralimbic system in AO-CD patients. For the first time, we observed cortical thinning in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in AO-CD patients which has not been reported in EO-CD patients. Prominent folding abnormalities were found in the paralimbic structures and frontal cortex while diminished surface areas were shown in the precentral and inferior temporal cortex. Furthermore, cortical thickness of the paralimbic structures was found to be negatively correlated with impulsivity and antisocial behaviors measured by the BIS and APSD, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that AO-CD is characterized by cortical structural abnormalities in the paralimbic system, and, in particular, we highlight the potential role of deficient structures including the precuneus and PCC in the etiology of AO-CD.
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Centre of Buddhist Studies,University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Situ
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute,the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Brain structure; conduct disorder; cortical thickness; neuroimaging; surface-based morphometry