Ramón Landin-Romero1, Salvador Sarró1, Paloma Fernández-Corcuera2, Noemí Moro2, Jose Manuel Goikolea3, María Isabel Carrión4, Edith Pomarol-Clotet1, Benedikt L Amann5, Joaquim Radua6. 1. FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain. 2. Benito Menni Complex Assistencial en Salut Mental, Barcelona, Spain. 3. CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain; Bipolar Disorder Program, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Hospital Sant Rafael, Barcelona, Spain. 5. FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: benedikt.amann@gmail.com. 6. FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, England.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Midline brain abnormalities might increase susceptibility to both first-episode and chronic mental disorder. Evidence of cavum vergae (CV) abnormality in mental disorders is scarce. METHODS: The presence of CV was assessed by a researcher blind to clinical information in a cross-disorder sample of 639 patients with mood and psychotic disorders and in 223 healthy controls. Homogeneous magnetic resonance imaging methods of acquisition and assessment were applied. RESULTS: Seven out of 639 patients with mood or psychotic disorders were detected with CV which corresponds to a prevalence of 1.1%. There were no concurrent cases of CV in the healthy control group. Identified cases which are briefly described were diagnosed from bipolar I disorder (n=2), delusional disorder (n=1), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) and schizoaffective disorder (n=3). Patients with CV had descriptively lower current IQ, executive functioning and memory scores in relation to patients without CV but this was not statistically significant. LIMITATIONS: Effects of medication and lack of statistical power of the CV patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Midline brain abnormalities, such as CV, might represent an unspecific risk factor for the development of severe mental disorders.
BACKGROUND:Midline brain abnormalities might increase susceptibility to both first-episode and chronic mental disorder. Evidence of cavum vergae (CV) abnormality in mental disorders is scarce. METHODS: The presence of CV was assessed by a researcher blind to clinical information in a cross-disorder sample of 639 patients with mood and psychotic disorders and in 223 healthy controls. Homogeneous magnetic resonance imaging methods of acquisition and assessment were applied. RESULTS: Seven out of 639 patients with mood or psychotic disorders were detected with CV which corresponds to a prevalence of 1.1%. There were no concurrent cases of CV in the healthy control group. Identified cases which are briefly described were diagnosed from bipolar I disorder (n=2), delusional disorder (n=1), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) and schizoaffective disorder (n=3). Patients with CV had descriptively lower current IQ, executive functioning and memory scores in relation to patients without CV but this was not statistically significant. LIMITATIONS: Effects of medication and lack of statistical power of the CV patient group. CONCLUSIONS:Midline brain abnormalities, such as CV, might represent an unspecific risk factor for the development of severe mental disorders.