Brain structural elements in psychiatric disorders
Analysis of brain-imaging data from a large consortium reveals shared
patterns and distinct signatures

Date:
July 7, 2020
Source:
Elsevier
Summary:
While researchers have previously identified brain structural
signatures associated with individual neurological diseases using
techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a team of
scientists has now compared data from multiple studies to find
brain structural abnormalities shared between four different
neuropsychiatric conditions. The researchers also found brain
signatures that were unique to individual conditions.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers have previously identified brain structural signatures
associated with individual neurological diseases using techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In a new study, a team of scientists
based in Germany has compared data from multiple studies to find brain structural abnormalities shared between four different neuropsychiatric conditions. The researchers also found brain signatures that were unique
to individual conditions.


==========================================================================
The work, led by Bernhard T. Baune, MD, PhD, and Udo Dannlowski, MD,
PhD, University of Mu"nster, Germany, appears in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier.

Co-first author Nils Opel, MD, (together with Janik Goltermann, MSc)
said of the work, "the identification of shared and disorder-specific
brain structural signatures might enhance the future development of biologically informed diagnostic applications in psychiatry." The team analyzed data collected as part of the effort by an international research consortium called ENIGMA, for "Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through
Meta Analysis," which uses genetic and imaging studies to understand
brain diseases. The 11 multi-center studies collected brain-imaging data
from over 12,000 people.

"We found that 4 major psychiatric disorders -- major depression,
bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder --
show a surprisingly high level of similarity in their brain structural abnormalities," said Dr. Opel. The shared brain areas showing structural aberrations were mainly in cortical areas associated with cognitive
processing, memory and self- awareness.

On the flipside, Dr. Opel added, "we were able to identify regional abnormalities with high specificity for certain disorders." Interestingly, these distinct structural differences sometimes appeared in the same
area for two disorders, but in opposite directions from the norm.

In contrast, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism
spectrum disorder did not share brain structural signatures with any
other disorders.

That may be because those disorders are considered developmental diseases
with a distinct etiology from the other psychiatric conditions, which
have more in common.

The researchers do not yet understand the mechanisms behind the shared structural elements, but a growing body of evidence shows that these psychiatric disorders also share common genetic as well as environmental influences, which might underlie the current findings.

"Our understanding arising from brain imaging studies of the biology
of neuropsychiatric disorders is changing," said John H. Krystal,
MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry. "Initially, we focused on the
individual properties of particular patient groups. Then, some imaging
studies suggested that neuropsychiatric disorders were dimensionally
related. This new study affirms the dimensional relationship among some disorders, but suggests that some categorical distinctions may exist at
the biological level." The finding of regional abnormalities specific
to individual conditions, Dr.

Opel added, "could help shift the focus of future psychiatric and neuroscientific research on brain regions that appear to be central
to disorder-specific biological processes and hence might facilitate
the discovery of mechanisms underlying the development of specific
psychiatric disorders."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Elsevier. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nils Opel, Janik Goltermann, Marco Hermesdorf, Klaus Berger,
Bernhard T.

Baune, Udo Dannlowski. Cross-Disorder Analysis of Brain
Structural Abnormalities in Six Major Psychiatric Disorders:
A Secondary Analysis of Mega- and Meta-analytical Findings
From the ENIGMA Consortium. Biological Psychiatry, 2020; DOI:
10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.04.027 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200707113258.htm

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