A systematic review and meta-analysis of structural and functional brain alterations in individuals with genetic and clinical high-risk for psychosis and bipolar disorder

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 13:117:110540. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110540. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Abstract

Neuroimaging findings in people at either genetic risk or at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) or bipolar disorder (CHR-B) remain unclear. A meta-analytic review of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in individuals with genetic risk or CHR-P or CHR-B and controls identified 94 datasets (N = 7942). Notwithstanding no significant findings were observed following adjustment for multiple comparisons, several findings were noted at a more liberal threshold. Subjects at genetic risk for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or at CHR-P exhibited lower gray matter (GM) volumes in the gyrus rectus (Hedges' g = -0.19). Genetic risk for psychosis was associated with GM reductions in the right cerebellum and left amygdala. CHR-P was associated with decreased GM volumes in the frontal superior gyrus and hypoactivation in the right precuneus, the superior frontal gyrus and the right inferior frontal gyrus. Genetic and CHR-P were associated with small structural and functional alterations involving regions implicated in psychosis. Further neuroimaging studies in individuals with genetic or CHR-B are warranted.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; Meta-analysis; Neuroimaging; Psychiatry; Psychosis; Schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Bipolar Disorder* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bipolar Disorder* / genetics
  • Bipolar Disorder* / pathology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Gray Matter / diagnostic imaging
  • Gray Matter / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychotic Disorders* / diagnostic imaging
  • Psychotic Disorders* / genetics
  • Psychotic Disorders* / pathology