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Hypothalamic Subunit Volumes in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Aurora Ruggeri1,2, Stener Nerland1,2, Lynn Mørch-Johnsen2,3,4
1Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|January 11, 2024
Summary
Schizophrenia patients showed altered hypothalamic volumes, particularly in the left inferior tubular subunit. Bipolar disorder patients had sex-specific volume differences, with males showing smaller right hypothalamic regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The hypothalamus regulates hormonal and autonomic pathways, potentially disrupted in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
- Limited research exists on hypothalamic subunit volumes in these psychiatric conditions.
- This study investigates hypothalamic subunit volumes in psychotic disorders versus healthy controls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hypothalamic subunit volumes between individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), and healthy controls (CTR).
- To explore sex-specific differences and associations with clinical factors in these volume alterations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized T1-weighted MRI scans from 344 SCZ patients, 340 BPD patients, and 684 controls.
- Employed an automated Bayesian segmentation method to extract hypothalamic and subunit volumes.
- Applied regression models to analyze group differences, sex interactions, and clinical correlations.
Main Results:
- SCZ patients exhibited larger left inferior tubular and smaller right anterior/posterior hypothalamic subunit volumes compared to controls.
- BPD patients showed no overall volume differences, but males had smaller right hypothalamic volumes than controls.
- Antipsychotic medication use in BPD was associated with left inferior tubular subunit volumes.
Conclusions:
- Regional hypothalamic alterations are evident in schizophrenia, potentially linked to HPA-axis, circadian rhythm, and cognitive impairments.
- Sex-specific hypothalamic volume differences in bipolar disorder warrant further investigation.
- These findings highlight the hypothalamus's role in the neurobiology of psychotic disorders.
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