[Neural Mechanism of Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder in Voxel-Based Morphometric Studies]

Major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder both possess the characteristic of abnormal mood regulation. Evidence of voxel-based morphometric (VBM) studies has been accumulated, and patients with both disorders show small gray matter volumes in the anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula, and regions related to emotion regulation. These small gray matter volumes were also shown to be associated with the family history and severity of the disease. Overall, the neural network relevant to mood regulation is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of both major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.