Corpus callosum changes in euthymic bipolar affectivedisorder

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 204; no. 2; pp. 129 - 136
• Main Authors: Lloyd, Adrian J, Ali, Heba E, Nesbitt, David, Brian, Moore P, Young, Allan H, Nicol, Ferrier I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Cambridge University Press 01-02-2014
• Subjects: Aging; Bipolar disorder; Changes; Corpus callosum; Diagnosis; Emotional disorders; Gender differences; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical diagnosis; Mental depression; Mood; Myelination; Neuronal-glial interactions; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Width
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.123687

BackgroundChanges in corpus callosum area and thickness have been reported inbipolar disorder. Imaging and limited neuropathological data suggestpossible abnormalities in myelination and/or glial function.AimsTo compare corpus callosum area, thickness and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) T1 signal intensity in patients with bipolar disorder andhealthy controls.MethodA total of 48 patients with euthymic bipolar disorder and 46 healthycontrols underwent MRI analysis of callosal midsagittal area, callosalthickness and T1 signal intensity.ResultsThe bipolar group had smaller overall and subregional callosal areas andcorrespondingly reduced callosal width than the control group. Agecorrelated negatively with callosal area in the control group but not inthe bipolar group. Signal intensity was higher in women than in men inboth groups. Signal intensity was reduced in women, but not in men, inthe bipolar group.ConclusionsObserved differences probably relate to diagnosis rather than mood stateand bipolar disorder appears to result in morphometric change thatoverrides changes seen in normal ageing. Intensity changes are consistentwith possible altered myelination or glial function. A gender-dependentfactor appears to operate and to interact with diagnosis.