Neuroanatomical abnormalities

Luxenberg, J.S., Swedo, S.E., Flament, M.F., Friedland, R.P., Rapoport, J., and Rapoport, S.I. (1988) Neuroanatomic abnormalities in obsessive-compulsive disorder detected with quantitative x-ray computed tomography. Am J Psychiatry 145 1089-1094. 

Pantelis C, Velakoulis D, McGorry PD, Wood SJ, Suckling J, et al. 2003. Neuroanatomical abnormalities before and after onset of psychosis A cross-sectional and longitudinal MRI comparison. Lancet 361(9354) 281-288. 

Before the development of brain imaging techniques, neuroanatomical correlates were primarily related to structural lesions of the CNS. Despite the fact that abnormalities have been found in both schizophrenia and affective illness, interest in the neuropathology of mood disorders has not been as intense as for schizophrenia. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder may be linked to abnormalities of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. The neuroanatomical basis of OCD may be related to dysfunction in the basal ganglia. The hallmark of treatment for OCD is use of SSRIs plus the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine. Panic disorder is characterized by unexpected panic attacks, possibly linked to abnormalities in the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and GABA, in the sensitivity of benzodiazepine receptors, or even in the regulation of respiration. Drag treatments include SSRIs, several of the newer antidepressants, high-potency benzodiazepines, many tricyclic antidepressants, and MAO inhibitors. 

A variety of neuroanatomic differences have been observed in samples of autistic patients in comparison with controls. This topic has been reviewed in recent publications [43-45]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show that by 2-4 years of age, 90% of autistic children have an abnormal early brain overgrowth followed by abnormally slowed growth [45, 46]. The most common finding has been hyperplasia of cerebral gray matter and cerebral and cerebellar white matter in the early life of autistic patients [46]. 

The neuroanatomical and reflexive behavioral abnormalities that occur in the early neonatal period in hypothyroidisni ... 

Swimming escape and locomotor activity represent more complex b viors. These are built on the normal p formanoe of early reflexes as well as coordination of multiple motor and adaptive behaviors. Since the significant abnormalities that we have observed in swiitming escape, locomotor activity, and wei t occur at 30 to 40 days of age (data not CMn), this suggested that the delays observed in early neonatal reflex and somatic measures may predict or be correlated with later bdiavioral abnormalities and perhaps abnormal neuroanatomical develcpment(32). 

Subtle neurophysiological and behavioral abnormalities in the offspring of prenatally injured mothers are the most difficult to evaluate. This is not only because of difficulties in differentiating the effects of other environmental factors, but also because there has been practically no attempt to correlate such findings with neuroanatomical changes except for a few recent attempts by some. ... 

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