The Amygdala in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Synthesis of Structural MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity Findings
Abstract
Frequently implicated in psychotic spectrum disorders, the amygdala serves as an important hub for elucidating the convergent and divergent neural substrates in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the two most studied groups of psychotic spectrum conditions. A systematic search of electronic databases through December 2017 was conducted to identify neuroimaging studies of the amygdala in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, focusing on structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional connectivity studies, with an emphasis on cross-diagnostic studies. Ninety-four independent studies were selected for the present review (49 structural MRI, 27 DTI, and 18 resting-state functional MRI studies). Also selected, and analyzed in a separate meta-analysis, were 33 volumetric studies with the amygdala as the region-of-interest. Reduced left, right, and total amygdala volumes were found in schizophrenia, relative to both healthy controls and bipolar subjects, even when restricted to cohorts in the early stages of illness. No volume abnormalities were observed in bipolar subjects relative to healthy controls. Shape morphometry studies showed either amygdala deformity or no differences in schizophrenia, and no abnormalities in bipolar disorder. In contrast to the volumetric findings, DTI studies of the uncinate fasciculus tract (connecting the amygdala with the medial- and orbitofrontal cortices) largely showed reduced fractional anisotropy (a marker of white mat…
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Amygdalar volumes are reduced bilaterally in MDD and in pediatric BD, with varying amygdalar connectivity with prefrontal regions in both conditions.
“Reviews have found that amygdalar volumes are reduced bilaterally in MDD (60) and in pediatric BD (78) with varying amygdalar connectivity with prefrontal regions in both conditions (79).”
From Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis (2022) · cites this paper as [79]
Structural abnormalities common to both BD and schizophrenia have been observed on neuroimaging.
“Structural abnormalities common to both BD and schizophrenia have also been observed on neuroimaging.”
From Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis (2022) · cites this paper as [79]
Diffusion studies of the uncinate fasciculus and anterior and posterior thalamic radiations have shown decreased fractional anisotropy in both BD and schizophrenia.
“Diffusion studies of the uncinate fasciculus (79) (connecting the amygdala with the medial- and orbitofrontal cortices) and anterior and posterior thalamic radiations (192) have shown decreased fractional anistrophy (a marker of white matter microstructural abnormality) in both BD and schizophrenia.”
From Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis (2022) · cites this paper as [79]
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Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis
Murphy, F., Nasa, A., Cullinane, D., Raajakesary, K., Gazzaz, A., Sooknarine, V., Haines, M., Roman, E., Kelly, L., O'Neill, A., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.748372 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
“Diffusion studies of the uncinate fasciculus (79) (connecting the amygdala with the medial- and orbitofrontal cortices) and anterior and posterior thalamic radiations (192) have shown decreased fractional anistrophy (a marker of white matter microstructural abnormality) in both BD and schizophrenia.”
BackgroundResult
- Authors
- Ho, N. F., Chong, P. L. H., Lee, D. R., Chew, Q. H., Chen, G., & Sim, K.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Mental Health (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Ho, New Fei
- Sim, Kang
- Venue
- Harvard Review of Psychiatry
- Published
- 2019-05
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 150-164
- ISSN
- 1067-3229 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-7309
- OpenAlex
- W2946077410
- Cited by
- 89
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 1.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Harvard Review of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Keywords
- amygdala, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis spectrum disorders, amygdala volume, uncinate fasciculus, fractional anisotropy, white matter microstructure
- MeSH terms
- Amygdala, Bipolar Disorder, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nerve Net, Schizophrenia, Anisotropy, Diffusion Tensor Imaging
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