Computerized Tomography of the Brain in Manic-Depressive Patients–A Controlled Study

Abstract

A computerized tomography (CT) of the brain was carried out on 40 manic‐depressive patients and 40 controls in order to study the organic characteristics of the brain in manic‐depressive psychosis. In the age group of 49 years and below, the left septum‐caudate distance (LSC) showed a lower value in the manic‐depressive group, but the other measurements for the ventricular system did not differ between both groups. The age group of 50 and over revealed a significant enlargement of maximum width of the inter‐hemispheric fissure (IF) and maximum width between the sylvian fissure and inner skull (SFIS) in the manic‐depressive group compared with the controls. The tendency to an enlargement of the third ventricle (IIIV) and maximum width of the right anterior horn (RAH) was also seen in the manic‐depressive patients. Cortical atrophy tended to appear in the temporal and occipital lobes earlier in the manic‐depressive group than in the controls. The patients showing a cerebral asymmetry of the hemisphere in the manic‐depressive group tended to show a reversed cerebral asymmetry.

Anatomical MRI findings in mood and anxiety disorders

“…Increased size of the third ventricle (Schlegel & Kretzschmar, 1987;Dewan et al, 1988;Beats et al, 1991;Rabins et al, 1991;Strakowski et al, 1993a;Baumann et al, 1997) and lateral ventricles (Nasrallah et al, 1982b;Scott et al, 1983;Luchins et al, 1984;Pearlson et al, 1984;Shima et al, 1984;Dolan et al, 1985;Lippmann et al, 1985;Andreasen et al, 1990;Figiel et al, 1991;Rabins et al, 1991;Wurthmann et al, 1995;Zipursky et al, 1997;Strakowski et al, 1999) were found in controlled CT and MRI studies in unipolar and bipolar individuals , but not in all studies (Tanaka et al, 1982;Weinberger et al, 1982;Dupont et al, 1987;Schlegel & Kretzschmar, 1987;Dewan et al, 1988;Iacono et al, 1988;Rossi et al, 1989;Abas et al, 1990;Swayze et al, 1990;Beats et al, 1991;Lesser et al, 1991;Van den Bossche et al, 1991;Risch et al, 1992;Shah et al, 1992;Coffey et al, 1993;Harvey et al, 1994;Wurthmann et al, 1995;Roy et al, 1998;Lim et al, 1999;Hauser et al, 2000;…”

Zur Neuropathologie der Schizophrenien

“…Als einziger dienzephaler Parameter ist die Dicke des periventrikulären Graus signifikant vermindert. Somit scheint der pneumenzephalographisch (30,38,42,50), echoenzephalographisch (74) und computertomographisch (24,27,43,80,88) bei vielen Schizophrenen nachgewiesenen Erweiterung des 3. Ventrikels ein Substanzverlust der in direkter Nachbarschaft zum 3.…”

“…Seit Einführung der Computertomographie in die Psychiatrie mehren sich die Hinweise, daß die Ventrikel vieler Schizophrener weiter sind als die altersgleieher Kontrollgruppen (24,27,43,80,88). Damit werden ältere Befun• de pneumenzephalographischer Untersuchungen (30,38,42,50) bestätigt, die zuvor keine ungeteilte Anerkennung fanden, da es wegen der mit der Pneumenzephalographie verbundenen Risiken nicht ohne weiteres möglich war, hinreichend große Kontrollgruppen mit zu untersuchen.…”

Brain Swelling and Ventricle Size

“…Comparative measurements with normal controls were rarely given. Infrequent mention was made of the shortcomings of pneumoencephalography as a method of demonstrating ventricle size by underfilling or overfilling and distention (Tanaka, 1981;Boddie et al, 1974). Therefore, it seems most reasonable to conclude that by air study the ventricles were normal or enlarged.…”