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. 2010 Nov;44(15):1106-10.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.04.005. Epub 2010 May 20.

Morphology of the subgenual prefrontal cortex in pediatric bipolar disorder

Hasan A Baloch  1 , John P Hatch, Rene L Olvera, Mark Nicoletti, Sheila C Caetano, Giovana B Zunta-Soares, Jair C Soares
Affiliations

Morphology of the subgenual prefrontal cortex in pediatric bipolar disorder

Hasan A Baloch et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: The subgenual prefrontal cortex (SGPFC) is an important brain region involved in emotional regulation and reward mechanisms. Volumetric abnormalities in this region have been identified in adults with bipolar disorder but thus far not in pediatric cases. We examined the volume of this brain region in subjects with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) and compared them to healthy controls.

Methods: Fifty one children and adolescents (mean age ± SD; 13.2 ± 2.9 y) with DSM-IV PBD and 41 (mean age ± SD; 13.7 ± 2.7 y) healthy comparison subjects (HC) underwent 1.5 T structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. We traced the SGPFC manually and compared SGPFC gray matter volumes using analysis of covariance with age, gender, and intracranial volume as covariates. We also examined the relationship of family history of affective disorders and medication status to SGPFC volumes.

Results: SGPFC volumes were not significantly different in PBD and HC subjects. However, exploratory analysis showed PBD subjects who had one or more first degree relatives with mood disorders (n = 33) had significantly smaller left hemisphere SGPFC compared to HC (p = 0.03 Sidak corrected). Current usage of a mood stabilizer was significantly associated with larger right SGPFC volume in PBD (F = 4.82, df = 1/41, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Subjects with PBD and a close family history of mood disorders may have smaller left SGPFC volumes than HC. Mood stabilizing medication may also impact SGPFC size and could have masked more subtle abnormalities overall.

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Conflict of interest statement

Jair Soares serves on the Speaker’s Bureau for Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, BMS, and Jannsen Cillag. He is a consultant for Organon and Shire. He has received research support from Pfizer, GSK, and Repligen. Rene Olvera receives research support from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals and is a consultant for Shire Pharmaceuticals. HAB, JPH, and GBZ have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interests to report. Sheila Caetano has had scholarships from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico) and FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa de São Paulo) and has research grant from NARSAD, APA (American Psychiatric Association)/AstraZeneca Young Minds in Psychiatry International Awards and CNPq.The other authors do not have any commercial associations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tracing of the SGPFC in the Coronal Plane
Figure 2
Figure 2
Saggital View of the SGPFC
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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