MRI OF LIMBIC STRUCTURE IN CHILDHOOD MAJOR DEPRESSION

儿童重度抑郁症（MDD）可能涉及边缘系统的变化， 结构，因为成人研究表明功能和结构 异常和儿童期MDD在临床上与成人持续 紊乱 儿童MDD的磁共振（MR）神经形态计量学研究 控制被提出来测试这种关联。 目标是：1） 确定是否存在额叶边缘回路结构变化 在儿童期MDD中，2）测量精神病理学 特征和形态学发现，以及3）估计边缘系统结构 与对照组儿童相比，MDD的发展差异。 8 - 12岁的青春期前MDD儿童将按年龄、性别、 利手、智商和社会经济地位与正常对照组相比。 所有受试者将 通过1）结构化精神病学访谈进行检查，以确定DSM-IV 诊断和 2)一个定制的核磁共振成像协议，以获得高分辨率， 脑三维图像 受试者将在基线时接受研究 以及18个月的随访。 MRI研究将使用 确定区域体积的体视学取样方法（时间 额叶，前额叶皮层，海马旁回，海马，杏仁核， 尾状核、豆状核和丘脑核。 这项调查将推进 我们对大脑额叶边缘结构发展的理解 青春期前的情感性精神病 这种指导研究的经验将结合联合收割机博士Botteron的先前工作 根据职业发展计划与神经影像学，提供深入 教育，包括MR图像处理，儿童MDD临床 研究和发育神经生物学研究。 两个导师 将提供监督和指导：迈克尔·瓦耶尼博士在磁 共振神经成像和芭芭拉·盖勒博士在儿童情感 紊乱 结构化的课程、研讨会和专家咨询 在生物统计学、神经放射学、神经解剖学和神经回路学中， 计划好了 获得这些研究技能和概念 知识将有助于Botteron博士作为一个独立的 精神病神经影像学研究员，使她能够设计和进行 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.