Changes in the corpus callosum in women with late-stage bipolar disorder

This study investigated the differences in corpus callosum (CC) volumes between women with early-stage and late-stage bipolar I (BP I) disorder using the criteria previously described in the literature.

We compared women with early- and late-stage BP I using criteria described in the Staging Systems Task Force Report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. We included 20 patients with early stage and 21 patients with late-stage BP I and a group of 25 healthy controls. Patients and controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Information on the clinical features of bipolar disorder was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Anatomical volumes of five regions of CC were compared between the three groups.

Women with late-stage BP I disorder had reduced posterior CC volumes compared with early-stage bipolar I patients and controls (F = 6.05; P = 0.004). The difference was significant after controlling for age, comorbidity with post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic symptoms during mood episodes, and current use of medication.

The posterior CC was significantly decreased in volume in women with late-stage bipolar disorder. These findings suggest that CC may be an anatomical target of neuroprogression in the course of bipolar disorder in women.