MRI OF LIMBIC STRUCTURE IN CHILDHOOD MAJOR DEPRESSION

儿童重度抑郁障碍(MDD)可能涉及边缘的变化 结构，因为成人研究表明功能和结构 儿童MDD的异常和成人临床上持续存在 精神错乱。儿童MDD和MDD的磁共振(MR)神经形态测量 控制被提议用来测试这种关联。目标是：1) 确定是否存在额叶边缘回路结构变化 在儿童MDD中，2)测量精神病理之间的联系 特征和形态学表现；3)估计边缘结构 MDD儿童与对照组儿童的发育差异。 8-12岁的青春期前MDD儿童将按年龄、性别、 利手、智商和自尊心与正常对照组比较。所有的科目都将是 接受1)有组织的精神病学访谈，以确定DSM-IV 诊断和2)定制的MRI方案以获得高分辨率， 三维脑部图像。受试者将在基线上进行研究 并进行了18个月的随访。核磁共振研究将使用以下方法进行评估 确定区域体积(时间)的体视学取样方法 脑叶，前额叶皮质，海马旁回，海马体，杏仁核， 尾状核、豆状核和丘脑核团。这项调查将取得进展 我们对额-缘结构发育的理解 情绪性青春期前精神病态的存在。 这项有指导的研究经验将结合Botteron博士之前的工作 在职业发展计划下提供深入的神经成像 教育，包括磁共振图像处理，儿童MDD临床 调查和发育神经生物学研究。两位导师 将提供监督和指导：Michael Vannier博士在Magic 共振神经成像和芭芭拉·盖勒博士的童年情感 精神错乱。有组织的课程作业、研讨会和咨询专家 在生物统计学中，神经放射学、神经解剖学和神经电路是 有计划的。这些研究技能和概念的获得 知识将促进Botteron博士作为一个独立的 精神科神经影像研究员，并使她能够设计和实施 儿童精神障碍与脑的纵向研究 发展。

Childhood major depressive disorder (MDD) may involve changes in limbic structures, since adult studies demonstrate functional and structural abnormalities and childhood MDD is clinically continuous with adult disorders. Magnetic resonance (MR) neuromorphometry of childhood MDD and controls is proposed to test this association. The aims are: 1) to determine whether frontal limbic circuit structural changes are present in childhood MDD, 2) measure the association between psychopathologic features and morphologic findings, and 3) estimate limbic structure developmental differences in MDD compared with control children. Prepubertal MDD children ages 8-12 will be matched by age, sex, handedness, IQ, and SES to normal controls. All subjects will be examined with 1) structured psychiatric interviews to determine DSM-IV diagnosis and 2) a tailored MRI protocol to acquire high resolution, three dimensional cerebral images. Subjects will be studied at baseline and an 18 month follow-up. MRI studies will be evaluated using stereologic sampling methods to determine regional volumes (temporal lobe, prefrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala, caudate, lenticular and thalamic nuclei. This investigation will advance our understanding of frontal-limbic structural development in the presence of affective prepubertal psychopathology. This mentored research experience will combine Dr. Botteron's prior work with neuroimaging under a career development plan to provide in depth education including MR image processing, childhood MDD clinical investigations, and developmental neurobiology studies. Two preceptors will provide supervision and guidance: Dr. Michael Vannier in magnetic resonance neuroimaging, and Dr. Barbara Geller in childhood affective disorders. Structured coursework, seminars and consultation with experts in biostatistics, neuroradiology, neuroanatomy and neural circuitry are planned. The acquisition of these research skills and conceptual knowledge will facilitate Dr. Botteron's development as an independent psychiatric neuroimaging researcher and enable her to design and conduct longitudinal studies on child psychiatric disorders and brain development.