BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated an important role of the amygdala for emotional information processing. We investigated a possible relationship between amygdala volumes, aggressive behavior, and dysthymia, in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Patients with TLE with and without aggression or dysthymia and healthy volunteers were assessed using quantitative MRI. Amygdala volumes were measured in a blinded fashion and corrected for total brain volumes. RESULTS: There was a highly significant enlargement of left and right amygdala volumes in patients with dysthymia (right side, p < .000; left side, p = .001). We found a significant positive correlation between left amygdala volumes (p = .02) and a trend towards positive correlation between right amygdala volumes and depression (p = .06), as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. Amygdala volumes of females were significantly larger than those of males (left side: p = .005; right side: p = .06). CONCLUSIONS: This is the second report of a relationship between amygdala volumes and depressed mood, confirming an earlier finding in patients with bipolar disease, and the first study reporting a correlation between amygdala volumes and depression. Increased processing of emotional information might increase amygdala blood flow and subsequently, result in amygdala enlargement.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated an important role of the amygdala for emotional information processing. We investigated a possible relationship between amygdala volumes, aggressive behavior, and dysthymia, in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS:Patients with TLE with and without aggression or dysthymia and healthy volunteers were assessed using quantitative MRI. Amygdala volumes were measured in a blinded fashion and corrected for total brain volumes. RESULTS: There was a highly significant enlargement of left and right amygdala volumes in patients with dysthymia (right side, p < .000; left side, p = .001). We found a significant positive correlation between left amygdala volumes (p = .02) and a trend towards positive correlation between right amygdala volumes and depression (p = .06), as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. Amygdala volumes of females were significantly larger than those of males (left side: p = .005; right side: p = .06). CONCLUSIONS: This is the second report of a relationship between amygdala volumes and depressed mood, confirming an earlier finding in patients with bipolar disease, and the first study reporting a correlation between amygdala volumes and depression. Increased processing of emotional information might increase amygdala blood flow and subsequently, result in amygdala enlargement.
Authors: Nobuko Kemmotsu; N Erkut Kucukboyaci; Christopher E Cheng; Holly M Girard; Evelyn S Tecoma; Vicente J Iragui; Carrie R McDonald Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2013-10-28 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: Jonathan Posner; David J Hellerstein; Inbal Gat; Anna Mechling; Kristin Klahr; Zhishun Wang; Patrick J McGrath; Jonathan W Stewart; Bradley S Peterson Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Jennifer Keller; Lin Shen; Rowena G Gomez; Amy Garrett; H Brent Solvason; Allan Reiss; Alan F Schatzberg Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2008-05-01 Impact factor: 18.112