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Hippocampal and amygdala volumes in an older bipolar disorder sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2012

Chanaka Wijeratne ,
Sonal Sachdev ,
Wei Wen ,
Olivier Piguet ,
Darren M. Lipnicki ,
Gin S. Malhi ,
Phillip B. Mitchell  and
Perminder S. Sachdev
Chanaka Wijeratne*
Affiliation:
Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Sonal Sachdev
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Wei Wen
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Olivier Piguet
Affiliation:
Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Darren M. Lipnicki
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Gin S. Malhi
Affiliation:
CADE Clinic, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Phillip B. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Perminder S. Sachdev
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr C. Wijeratne, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker St., Randwick, NSW 2041, Australia. Phone: +61-2-9382-3759; Fax: +61-2-9382-3762. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Brain volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of adult bipolar disorder samples, compared with healthy controls, have reported conflicting results in hippocampal and amygdala volumes. Among these, few have studied older bipolar samples, which would allow for examination of the effects of greater duration in mood episodes on brain volumes. The aim of this study was to compare hippocampal and amygdala volumes in older bipolar patients with controls.

Methods: High-resolution MRI scans were used to determine hippocampal and amygdala volumes that were manually traced using established protocols in 18 euthymic patients with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder (mean age 57 years) and 21 healthy controls (mean age 61 years). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to explore group differences while controlling for intracranial volume (ICV), age, sex, and years of education.

Results: While gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes did not differ between the groups, bipolar disorder patients had smaller ICV (t = 2.54, p = 0.015). After correcting for ICV, the bipolar group had smaller hippocampal (left hippocampus F = 13.944, p = 0.001; right hippocampus F = 10.976, p = 0.002; total hippocampus F = 13.566; p = 0.001) and right amygdala (F = 13.317, p = 0.001) volumes. Total hippocampal volume was negatively associated with the duration of depressive (r = −0.636; p = 0.035) and manic (r = −0.659; p = 0.027) episodes, but not lithium use. Amygdala volumes were not associated with the duration of mood episodes.

Conclusions: Older bipolar disorder patients had smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes. That smaller hippocampal volume was associated with the duration of mood episodes may suggest a neuroprogressive course related to the severity of the disorder.

Keywords

hippocampusamygdalaMRIolder peoplebipolar disorder
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 54 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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