Magnetic resonance imaging study of corpus callosum abnormalities in patients with bipolar disorder

Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Dec 1;54(11):1294-7. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00070-2.

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to further examine the hypothesis of abnormalities in size of corpus callosum in subjects with bipolar disorder.

Methods: Sixteen right-handed DSM-IV bipolar I patients and 27 right-handed healthy control subjects were studied. A 1.5-T GE Signa magnet was used, and three-dimensional gradient echo imaging (spoiled gradient recall acquisition) was conducted. Area measurements of corpus callosum were obtained blindly, with a semi-automated software, by a well-trained rater.

Results: Right-handed bipolar I patients had significantly smaller total corpus callosum, genu, posterior body, and isthmus areas compared with right-handed healthy control subjects (analysis of covariance with age, gender, and intracranial volume as covariates, p <.05). Partial correlation analyses, controlled for intracranial volumes, found a significant inverse relationship between age and total callosal, genu, anterior body, isthmus, and circularity in healthy control subjects (p <.05) but not in bipolar patients (p >.05).

Conclusions: Smaller callosal areas may lead to altered inter-hemispheric communication and be involved in the pathophysiology and cognitive impairment found in bipolar disorder.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Bipolar Disorder / pathology*
  • Bipolar Disorder / physiopathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology*
  • Corpus Callosum / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male