Structural brain abnormalities in patients with type I bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior.

Some studies have identified brain morphological changes in the frontolimbic network (FLN) in bipolar subjects who attempt suicide (SA). The present study investigated neuroanatomical abnormalities in the FLN to find a possible neural signature for suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar disorder type I (BD-I). We used voxel-based morphometry to compare euthymic patients with BD-I who had attempted suicide (n=20), who had not attempted suicide (n=19) and healthy controls (HCs) (n=20). We also assessed the highest medical lethality of their previous SA. Compared to the participants who had not attempted suicide, the patients with BD-I who had attempted suicide exhibited significantly increased gray matter volume (GMV) in the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which was more pronounced and extended further to the left ACC in the high-lethality subgroup (p<0.05, with family-wise error (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons using small-volume correction). GMV in the insula and orbitofrontal cortex was also related to suicide lethality (p<0.05, FWE-corrected). The current findings suggest that morphological changes in the FLN could be a signature of previous etiopathogenic processes affecting regions related to suicidality and its severity in BD-I patients.

A voxel-based morphometry study of gray matter correlates of facial emotion recognition in bipolar disorder.

Facial emotion recognition (FER) is one of the many cognitive deficits reported in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate neuroanatomical correlates of FER impairments in BD type I (BD-I). Participants comprised 21 euthymic BD-I patients without Axis I DSM IV-TR comorbidities and 21 healthy controls who were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging and the Penn Emotion Recognition Test (ER40). Preprocessing of images used DARTEL (diffeomorphic anatomical registration through exponentiated Lie algebra) for optimized voxel-based morphometry in SPM8. Compared with healthy subjects, BD-I patients performed poorly in on the ER40 and had reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the left orbitofrontal cortex, superior portion of the temporal pole and insula. In the BD-I group, the statistical maps indicated a direct correlation between FER on the ER40 and right middle cingulate gyrus GMV. Our findings are consistent with the previous studies regarding the overlap of multiple brain networks of social cognition and BD neurobiology, particularly components of the anterior-limbic neural network.

Amnésia retrógrada funcional grave: relato de caso / Severe functional retrograde amnesia: case report

CONTEXTO: Uma síndrome amnésica clássica caracteriza-se por evidente prejuízo da memória anterógrada, variável e temporária amnésia retrógrada, sendo as formas não-declarativas da memória poupadas. Entretanto, publicações recentes relataram casos de prejuízo desproporcional da memória retrógrada em relação à anterógrada. OBJETIVOS: Relatar o caso de um paciente de 26 anos de idade com um quadro grave de amnésia retrógrada, aparentemente sem fatores desencadeantes. MÉTODOS: Entrevista psiquiátrica e avaliação neuropsicológica. RESULTADOS: A perda de memória do paciente se estendia por toda sua vida, mas ele era capaz de adquirir e reter novas informações. Ele também apresentava prejuízos na produção e na compreensão de palavras, assim como no reconhecimento e no uso de objetos. CONCLUSÃO: A formulação diagnóstica final do caso é difícil, apontando possivelmente o contínuo existente entre a amnésia retrógrada psicogênica e a orgânica.

BACKGROUND: A classic amnestic syndrome is characterized by a significant impairment of the anterograde memory, a variable and transitory retrograde amnesia with preserved non-declarative memory. However, case reports of patients with disproportionate compromise of the retrograde memory have been described in the recent literature. OBJECTIVES: To report a 26-year-old patient with a severe global retrograde amnesia with no evident triggering factor. METHODS: Psychiatric interview and neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS: His memory loss compromised all domains of his life, although he could acquire and retain new information. He also exhibited prominent deficits in production and comprehension of common words as well as in recognition and use of objects. DISCUSSION: The final diagnostic formulation of the present case is difficult possibly indicating a continuum between psychogenic and organic retrograde amnesia.

Sensitivity and applicability of the Brazilian version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

Cognitive assessment in schizophrenia has traditionally used batteries that are long and complex or differ widely in their content. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) has been developed to cover the main cognitive deficits of schizophrenia as well as to be easily and briefly administered, portable, sensitive and reliable. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the applicability and sensitivity of the Brazilian Version of the BACS (Brazilian-BACS). METHODS: Performance of 20 stable patients with schizophrenia on the Brazilian-BACS was compared to 20 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Applying the Brazilian-BACS required 43.4±8.4minutes for patients and 40.5±5.7 minutes for controls (p=0.17). All tests demonstrated significant differences between controls and patients (P<0.01). Pearson's correlation analysis and Cronbach's a evidenced a high internal consistency for patient performance. The cognitive deficit in the patients was approximately 1.5 standard deviations below controls. These results were consistent with those reported in the validation of the original version and in meta-analyses of similar studies. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian-BACS displayed good applicability and sensitivity in assessing the major cognitive constructs that are impaired in schizophrenia. Thus, the Brazilian-BACS seems to be a promising tool for assessing cognition in patients with schizophrenia in Brazil.

A avaliação cognitiva na esquizofrenia tem utilizado tradicionalmente baterias longas e complexas ou que variam significativamente em seu conteúdo. A "Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia" (BACS) foi desenvolvida para cobrir os principais déficits cognitivos na esquizofrenia, para ser de fácil e breve aplicação, assim como portátil, sensível e confiável. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a aplicabilidade e a sensibilidade da versão brasileira da BACS (Brazilian-BACS). MÉTODOS: O desempenho de 20 pacientes estáveis com esquizofrenia na Brazilian-BACS foi comparado ao de 20 controles saudáveis pareados. RESULTADOS: A aplicação da Brazilian-BACS exigiu 43.4±8.4minutos nos pacientes e 40.5±5.7 minutos nos controles (p=0.17). Todos os testes foram significativamente diferentes entre pacientes e controles (P<0.01). A correlação de Pearson e o alfa de Cronbach evidenciaram alto grau de consistência interna no desempenho dos pacientes. O déficit cognitivo nos pacientes foi cerca de 1,5 desvio-padrão menor do que nos controles. Esses resultados são consistentes com os relatados na validação da versão original e em meta-análises de estudos similares. CONCLUSÕES: A Brazilian-BACS mostrou boas aplicabilidade e sensibilidade na investigação dos principais domínios cognitivos comprometidos na esquizofrenia. Portanto, a Brazilian-BACS mostra-se um instrumento promissor no estudo da cognição de pacientes com esquizofrenia no Brasil.