Abstract
In the last decade, multiple investigator groups have identified structural changes
of various neuroanatomic structures in patients with idiopathic major depression and
bipolar disorders. Using high-resolution MRI of the brain and functional neuroimaging
studies (i.e., PET, SPECT), researchers have described decreases in the volume of
hippocampal formation, amygdala, entorhinal cortex, various frontal lobe structures,
and basal ganglia, in addition to abnormal cerebral blood flow and metabolic activity
in these structures as well as in thalamic nuclei. Similar structural and functional
changes have been identified in patients with depression associated with a variety
of neurologic disorders (i.e., stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s
dementia). In addition, recent data have shown that depression is a risk factor for
the development of several neurologic disorders, including epilepsy, stroke, and Parkinson’s
disease and bears a negative impact on the course and outcome of most neurologic disorders.
This article reviews these data and provides evidence that major depressive and bipolar
disorders may in fact be neurologic disorders with psychiatric symptoms.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 9,
2004
Received:
July 9,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Published by Elsevier Inc.
