Structural neuroimaging and predominant polarity in patients with type 1 bipolar disorder from Antioquia

Predominant polarity (PP) has been proposed as a specifier of bipolar disorder (BD) due to its relationship with clinical and prognostic variables. It is possible that this is due to a different underlying neurobiology, in such a way that the changes found by structural nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) in BD are different and specific.

To explore findings of structural neuroimaging in patients with BD type I (BD-I) according to PP.

Cross-sectional study that evaluated 77 patients with BD-I using the DIGS interview. PP was established using the operative definition of two-thirds of all affective episodes throughout life to classify PP as manic (MPP), depressive (DPP) or indeterminate (IPP). MRI was performed during the euthymia phase to measure intracranial structures. The data obtained was analysed using a linear regression model adjusted for confounding variables (drug use, alcohol use, psychoactive substance use) and were compared between the three groups finding the standardised mean difference (SMD).

Differences with adequate effect size were found in three brain structures after adjusting for confounding variables, specifically in the right fusiform gyrus and the left lingual gyrus, which were greater in the DPP group than in the MPP group (SMD = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.34-1.49 and SMD = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.21-1.35). Likewise, in the right thalamus, it was shown to be greater in the IPP group compared to MPP group (SMD 0.89, 95% CI = 0.31-1.46).

A reduction in the thickness of the right fusiform gyrus and the left lingual gyrus, as well as the right thalamic volume was observed in patients with BD-I with PPM, which supports the hypothesis that PP has a plausible neurobiological correlate and could have potential utility as a BD specifier.