Background: Morphologic changes of cortico-limbic regions have been reported in bipolar disorder, but it remains unclear whether midline brain abnormalities relevant to cortico-limbic connectivity are also present.
Methods: We used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the size of the adhesio interthalamica (AI) and cavum septi pellucidi (CSP), as well as third ventricular volume, in 26 patients with bipolar I disorder and 24 matched controls.
Results: CSP length and prevalence of a large CSP did not differ between the groups, but bipolar patients had significantly shorter AI and larger third ventricles compared to controls.
Limitations: A comprehensive investigation of medication effects was not possible due to incomplete medication data.
Conclusions: These findings implicate a role for the AI and connected brain regions in the neurobiology of bipolar disorder.
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