An observational study on gray matter volume and white matter integrity in suicide attempters with bipolar I disorder
Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with a high risk of lifetime suicide attempts, but relatively few neuroimaging studies have investigated suicidality in the context of BD. Aim: The study aimed to assess the white matter (WM) integrity and gray matter (GM) volume associated with suicid...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_966_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with a high risk of lifetime suicide attempts, but relatively few neuroimaging studies have investigated suicidality in the context of BD.
Aim:
The study aimed to assess the white matter (WM) integrity and gray matter (GM) volume associated with suicide attempts in BD.
Method:
This observational study recruited 32 patients with DSM-5 bipolar I disorder. Group I had multiple (≥2) lifetime suicide attempts, with at least one attempt in the past year. Group II comprised nonattempters/nonideators who screened negative on the C-SSRS-lifetime version. All patients were euthymic (≤8 on 17-item HAM-D; ≤4 on YMRS). Study assessments included a clinical proforma, NIMH-Life Chart Method, and Barratt’s Impulsivity Scale (BIS). MR imaging was performed using a 32‐channel head coil on a 3T-MR scanner. All participants underwent DTI, and images were processed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).
Results:
The study groups were comparable for age, gender, total BIS, and illness variables. The mean age was 34.3 years (SD 10.4), with 62.5% males in group I. Group comparisons for FA value revealed a lower WM anisotropy for five clusters (threshold of FA 0.2; P < 0.001; GRF corrected) in the suicide attempters’ group. These included the left and right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), cingulate, and forceps minor. Voxel-wise analysis of GMV did not show any significant group differences.
Conclusion:
The findings indicate white matter disruptions associated with lifetime suicide attempts in BD, particularly in the bilateral IFOF, left SLF, cingulate, and forceps minor. |
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| ISSN: | 0019-5545 1998-3794 |