Background: To examine the magnetic resonance (MR) images of bipolar patien
ts across a wide age range for the presence of hyperintense lesions compare
d to age- and gender-matched control subjects,
Methods: Consecutive admissions to a mood disorders unit over a 2-year peri
od were evaluated retrospectively for the presence of bipolar disorder by D
SM-III-R criteria and whether they received an MR scan. Bipolar patients (n
= 70, mean age = 49.9 +/- 19.7 years) were age- and gender-matched to cont
rol subjects (n = 70, mean age = 53.2 +/- 18.1 years) and the MR scans were
rated to assess for the presence of hyperintensites,
Results: Compared to control subjects, the bipolar patients demonstrated hy
perintense lesions in the subependymal region, subcortical gray nuclei, and
the deep white matter.
Conclusions: Hyperintense lesions in bipolar patients are found in both the
subcortical white matter and gray nuclei and may play an important role in
the etiology of bipolar illness. (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry
.