title: Microstructural White Matter Alterations in the Corpus Callosum of Girls With Conduct Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in adolescent conduct disorder (CD) have demonstrated white matter alterations of tracts connecting functionally distinct fronto-limbic regions, but only in boys or mixed-gender samples. So far, no study has investigated white matter integrity in girls with CD on a whole-brain level. Therefore, our aim was to investigate white matter alterations in adolescent girls with CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected high-resolution DTI data from 24 girls with CD and 20 typically developing control girls using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging system. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were analyzed for whole-brain as well as a priori-defined regions of interest, while controlling for age and intelligence, using a voxel-based analysis and an age-appropriate customized template.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole-brain findings revealed white matter alterations (i.e., increased FA) in girls with CD bilaterally within the body of the corpus callosum, expanding toward the right cingulum and left corona radiata. The FA and MD results in a priori-defined regions of interest were more widespread and included changes in the cingulum, corona radiata, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus. These results were not driven by age, intelligence, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report provides the first evidence of white matter alterations in female adolescents with CD as indicated through white matter reductions in callosal tracts. This finding enhances current knowledge about the neuropathological basis of female CD. An increased understanding of gender-specific neuronal characteristics in CD may influence diagnosis, early detection, and successful intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Willeke Martine
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Menks
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furger
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lynn Valérie
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Fehlbaum
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: nora.raschle@upkbs.ch.
authors.forename: Nora Maria
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Raschle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: aggression; conduct disorder; diffusion tensor imaging; gender; pediatric neuroimaging