[Neuroimaging of bipolar disorders]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Affective disorders, including bipolar disorder, are increasingly studied using neuroimaging.
• Structural and functional brain alterations are observed in key mood-regulating regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in structural and functional neuroimaging for affective disorders.
• To highlight the role of specific brain regions and connections in mood regulation.

Main Methods:

• Review of structural neuroimaging studies (e.g., MRI).
• Review of functional neuroimaging studies (fMRI, SPECT, PET).

Main Results:

• Structural changes in the limbic system, prefrontal cortex, and subcortical regions correlate with affective disorders, though heterogeneity exists, particularly in bipolar disorder.
• Functional neuroimaging confirms the involvement of paralimbic, cortical, and subcortical structures in mood regulation.
• Methodological limitations in functional neuroimaging currently impact result reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• Neuroimaging is crucial for understanding affective disorders.
• Improving methodologies in functional neuroimaging will enhance its role in diagnosing and treating mood disorders.
• Future research will likely leverage advanced neuroimaging for more consistent findings in affective and bipolar disorders.