Neuroanatomy of affective disorders

Question 1

What should be investigated in patients with treatment-resistant chronic affective disorders or focal-neurological symptoms?

Answer 1

Organic causes

Question 2

Which imaging techniques are used to rule out slow-growing frontal brain tumors?

Answer 2

Brain CT with contrast or MRI without contrast

Question 3

What can a non-contrast MRI show in patients with frontotemporal dementia?

Answer 3

Frontal and temporal atrophy

Question 4

What symptoms might present in patients with frontotemporal dementia that can be detected by non-contrast MRI?

Answer 4

Apathy or inappropriate behavior

Question 5

Which imaging technique can be used to detect Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 5

Dopamine transporter (123FP-CIT)-SPECT

Question 6

For what condition is the dopamine transporter (123FP-CIT)-SPECT particularly useful?

Answer 6

Parkinson’s disease

Question 7

What are the key parts of the “Social and Emotional Brain”?

Answer 7

Limbic forebrain areas and hypothalamus

Question 8

From where does the hypothalamus receive a large part of its projections?

Answer 8

Limbic forebrain structures

Question 9

What are the cortical structures included in the limbic forebrain structures?

Answer 9

Orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus

Question 10

What are the subcortical structures included in the limbic forebrain structures?

Answer 10

septal region and amygdaloid complex

Question 11

What is the role of prefronto-striato-thalamic loops in the neuroanatomical modeling of affective disorders?

Answer 11

They are critical pathways involved in mood regulation and are implicated in affective disorders.

Question 12

What are the key components of the prefronto-striato-thalamic loops?

Answer 12

The prefrontal cortex, striatum, and thalamus.

Question 13

What are the specific prefrontal cortex regions involved in the prefronto-striato-thalamic loops relevant to affective disorders?

Answer 13

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC).

Question 14

What functions are associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the context of affective disorders?

Answer 14

The DLPFC is involved in executive functions, such as working memory and cognitive control, which can be disrupted in affective disorders. [D=Denken]

Question 15

What functions are associated with the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in the context of affective disorders?

Answer 15

The VLPFC is involved in the regulation of emotional responses and decision-making processes, which can be altered in affective disorders. [V=Fühlen]

Question 16

What is the key neurochemistry involved in prefronto-striato-thalamic loops?

Answer 16

Dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), all of which play crucial roles in mood regulation and cognitive functions within these loops

Question 17

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 17

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra

Question 18

What did subgenual cortex resting-state fMRI connectivity predict in treatment-naïve MDD patients?

Answer 18

treatment failure to cognitive behavioral therapy versus antidepressant medication with 75%-89% accuracy in 122 patients.

Question 19

What is a notable characteristic of the subgenual area in individuals with current major depression?

Answer 19

Abnormal metabolism.

Question 20

What psychological trait are the subgenual area & anterior temporal BOLD linked to in terms of emotional response?

Answer 20

The subgenual area’s activity is linked to how prone one is to experiencing guilt and self-blame.

Question 21

In major depression, is outward aggression a common diagnostic feature?

Answer 21

No, outward aggression is relatively rare and not a diagnostic feature according to DSM-IV or ICD-10.

Question 22

What psychological trait is non-violent irritability and anger linked to in atypical depression according to DSM-IV?

Answer 22

It is linked to rejection sensitivity and hence low self-worth.

Question 23

What is the current treatment target in blame rebalance fMRI neurofeedback for depression?

Answer 23

The treatment target is the posterior subgenual area (BA25) - anterior temporal hyper-connectivity.