A Whole-Brain Investigation of White Matter Microstructure in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder.
BACKGROUND
The biological basis of severe antisocial behaviour in adolescents is poorly understood. We recently reported that adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) have significantly increased fractional anisotropy (FA) of the uncinate fasciculus (a white matter (WM) tract that connects the amygdala to the frontal lobe) compared to their non-CD peers. However, the extent of WM abnormality in other brain regions is currently unclear.


METHODS
We used tract-based spatial statistics to investigate whole brain WM microstructural organisation in 27 adolescent males with CD, and 21 non-CD controls. We also examined relationships between FA and behavioural measures. Groups did not differ significantly in age, ethnicity, or substance use history.


RESULTS
The CD group, compared to controls, had clusters of significantly greater FA in 7 brain regions corresponding to: 1) the bilateral inferior and superior cerebellar peduncles, corticopontocerebellar tract, posterior limb of internal capsule, and corticospinal tract; 2) right superior longitudinal fasciculus; and 3) left cerebellar WM. Severity of antisocial behavior and callous-unemotional symptoms were significantly correlated with FA in several of these regions across the total sample, but not in the CD or control groups alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents with CD have significantly greater FA than controls in WM regions corresponding predominantly to the fronto-cerebellar circuit. There is preliminary evidence that variation in WM microstructure may be dimensionally related to behaviour problems in youngsters. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that antisocial behaviour in some young people is associated with abnormalities in WM 'connectivity'.
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Sagari
S
Sarkar
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, Natbrainlab, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Flavio
F
Dell'Acqua
Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
Seán
S
Froudist Walsh
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Nigel
N
Blackwood
King's College London, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Stephen
S
Scott
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Michael C
MC
Craig
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Quinton
Q
Deeley
King's College London, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.|King's College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom.
Declan G M
DG
Murphy
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016880:Anisotropy; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult