Abnormal functional connectivity of the medial cortex in euthymic bipolar II disorder.

This project utilized functional MRI (fMRI) and a motor activation paradigm to investigate neural circuitry in euthymic bipolar II disorder. We hypothesized that circuitry involving the cortical midline structures (CMS) would demonstrate abnormal functional connectivity. Nineteen subjects with recurrent bipolar disorder and 18 controls were studied using fMRI and a motor activation paradigm.

Differences in functional connectivity in major depression versus bipolar II depression.

Background: Objective methods of differentiating unipolar versus bipolar depression would enhance our ability to treat these disorders by providing more accurate diagnoses. One first step towards developing diagnostic methodology is determining whether brain function as assessed by functional MRI (fMRI) and functional connectivity analyses might differentiate the two disorders.

Methods: Fourteen subjects with bipolar II depression and 26 subjects with recurrent unipolar depression were studied using fMRI and functional connectivity analyses.

Aberrant functional connectivity of cortico-basal ganglia circuits in major depression.

There is considerable evidence of functional abnormalities of the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry in affective disorders. However, it has been unknown whether this represented primary pathology within these circuits or altered activation as a result of aberrant input from other brain regions. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that cortico-basal ganglia circuit dysfunction represents primary pathology in unipolar depression.

Personality disorders in ADHD Part 2: The effect of symptoms of personality disorder on response to treatment with OROS methylphenidate in adults with ADHD.

Background: This study explored the relationship between personality disorder (PD) and treatment response in a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial of osmotic release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate (MPH).

Methods: Forty-seven patients entered a crossover trial using the Wender-Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (WRAADDS) to assess outcome. A final personality diagnosis was made using staff consensus and information from the Wisconsin Personality Inventory IV (WISPI-IV) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II).

Personality disorder in ADHD Part 1: Assessment of personality disorder in adult ADHD using data from a clinical trial of OROS methylphenidate.

Background: Comorbidity of personality disorder (PD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been suggested in several reports. However, assessment of PD is problematic, and studies have over-relied on baseline evaluations.

Methods: Forty-seven patients entered a double-blind trial of osmotic release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate (MPH).

Reliability of fMRI motor tasks in structures of the corticostriatal circuitry: implications for future studies and circuit function.

The corticostriatal circuits are important information processing networks. There is evidence that these circuits may be dysfunctional in a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions ranging from Parkinson's disease to bipolar disorder. Cross-sectional fMRI studies may clarify normal circuit function, and longitudinal studies may provide information on changes related to age in control subjects, as well as illness progression and treatment response in patient groups.