Sex differences in fronto-limbic white matter tracts in youth with mood disorders

Daniel Hermens; Daniel Jamieson; Lauren Fitzpatrick; Dashiell Sacks; Frank Iorfino; Jacob J Crouse; Adam J Guastella; Elizabeth M Scott; Ian B Hickie; Jim Lagopoulos

doi:10.1111/pcn.13440

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Sex differences in fronto-limbic white matter tracts in youth with mood disorders

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Sex differences in fronto-limbic white matter tracts in youth with mood disorders

Daniel Hermens, Daniel Jamieson, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Dashiell Sacks, Frank Iorfino, Jacob J Crouse, Adam J Guastella, Elizabeth M Scott, Ian B Hickie and Jim Lagopoulos

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Vol.76(10), pp.481-489

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.13440

PMID: 35730893

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

mood disorders

sex differences

white matter

DTI

Youth mental health

Neuroimaging

Thompson Institute Special Collection

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Aims: Depression and bipolar disorder patients have previously been shown to have impaired white matter (WM) integrity compared to healthy controls. This study aimed to investigate potential sex differences that may provide further insight into the pathophysiology of these highly debilitating mood disorders. Methods: Participants (17-30 years of age), N=168 depression (60% females) and N=107 bipolar disorder (74% females) and N=61 controls (64% females), completed clinical assessment, self-report measures and a neuropsychological assessment battery. Participants also underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans from which Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data were collected across five fronto-limbic WM tracts: cingulum bundle (cingulate gyrus and hippocampus subsections), fornix, stria terminalis and the uncinate fasciculus (UF). Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) scores were compared between groups using analyses of variance with sex and diagnosis as fixed factors. Results: Among the nine WM tracts analysed, one revealed a significant interaction between sex and diagnosis, controlling for age. Male bipolar disorder patients had significantly lower FA scores in the fornix compared to the other groups. Furthermore, partial correlations revealed a significant positive association between FA scores for the fornix and psychomotor speed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that males with bipolar disorder may be at increased risk of disruptions in WM integrity, especially in the fornix, which is thought to be responsible for a range of cognitive functions. More broadly, our findings suggest that sex differences may exist in WM integrity and thereby alter our understanding of the pathophysiology of mood disorders.

Details

Title: Sex differences in fronto-limbic white matter tracts in youth with mood disorders
Authors: Daniel Hermens (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Daniel Jamieson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Lauren Fitzpatrick (Author) - The University of Sydney
Dashiell Sacks (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Frank Iorfino (Author) - The University of Sydney
Jacob J Crouse (Author) - The University of Sydney
Adam J Guastella (Author) - The University of Sydney
Elizabeth M Scott (Author) - The University of Sydney
Ian B Hickie (Author) - The University of Sydney
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Publication details: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Vol.76(10), pp.481-489
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13440
ISSN: 1440-1819
PMID: 35730893
Copyright note: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hermens, D.F., Jamieson, D., Fitzpatrick, L., Sacks, D.D., Iorfino, F., Crouse, J.J., Guastella, A.J., Scott, E.M., Hickie, I.B. and Lagopoulos, J. (2022), Sex differences in fronto-limbic white matter tracts in youth with mood disorders. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.13440, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.13440. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Grants: Optimising early interventions for young people with emerging mood disorder, 1061043, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours in young people presenting for health care, 1171910, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Grant note: NHMRC Australia Fellowship (No. 511921 awarded to I.B.H.).
Organisation Unit: Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99649177802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Clinical Neurology; Neurosciences; Psychiatry

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