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Comparative Study
. 2012 Apr;90(1):18-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.01.008. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Structure-function associations in hippocampus in bipolar disorder

Lara G Chepenik  1 , Fei Wang, Linda Spencer, Marisa Spann, Jessica H Kalmar, Fay Womer, E Kale Edmiston, Brian Pittman, Hilary P Blumberg
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Structure-function associations in hippocampus in bipolar disorder

Lara G Chepenik et al. Biol Psychol. 2012 Apr.

Abstract

Hippocampus volume decreases and verbal memory deficits have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) as independent observations. We investigated potential associations between these deficits in subjects with BD. Hippocampus volumes were measured on magnetic resonance images of 31 subjects with BD and 32 healthy comparison (HC) subjects. The California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT) assessed verbal memory function in these subjects. Compared to the HC group, the BD group showed both significantly smaller hippocampus volumes and impaired performance on CVLT tests of immediate, short delay and long delay cued and free recall. Further, smaller hippocampus volume correlated with impaired performance in BD. Post hoc analyses revealed a trend towards improved memory in BD subjects taking antidepressant medications. These results support associations between morphological changes in hippocampus structure in BD and verbal memory impairment. They provide preliminary evidence pharmacotherapy may reverse hippocampus-related memory deficits.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Hippocampus Volume in the Bipolar Disorder and Healthy Control Groups
The graph displays ls means and standard errors for hippocampus volumes (mm3) by diagnosis, adjusted for total brain volume. The BD group had significantly smaller hippocampus volumes compared to the HC group (p=0.01). Abbreviations: BD, bipolar disorder; HC, healthy control; ls, least square
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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