Personality traits related to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: MRI reveals prefrontal abnormalities through a voxel-based morphometry study

Abstract Studies involving juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients have demonstrated an elevated prevalence of cluster B personality disorders (PD) characterized as emotional instability, immaturity, unsteadiness, lack of discipline, and rapid mood changes. We aimed to verify a possible correlati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2009-06, Vol.15 (2), p.202-207
Main Authors: de Araújo Filho, Gerardo Maria, Jackowski, Andrea Parolin, Lin, Katia, Guaranha, Mirian S.B, Guilhoto, Laura M.F.F, da Silva, Henrique Hattori, Caboclo, Luís Otávio Sales Ferreira, Júnior, Henrique Carrete, Bressan, Rodrigo Affonseca, Yacubian, Elza Márcia T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain Mapping
Case-Control Studies
Cluster B personality disorders
Female
Humans
Idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile - complications
Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile - pathology
Neurology
Personality
Personality Disorders - complications
Prefrontal Cortex - pathology
Psychiatric disorders
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Retrospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Voxel-based morphometry
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Studies involving juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients have demonstrated an elevated prevalence of cluster B personality disorders (PD) characterized as emotional instability, immaturity, unsteadiness, lack of discipline, and rapid mood changes. We aimed to verify a possible correlation between structural brain abnormalities in magnetic resonance image (MRI) and the PD in JME using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Sixteen JME patients with cluster B PD, 38 JME patients without psychiatric disorders, and 30 healthy controls were submitted to a psychiatric evaluation through SCID I and II and to a MRI scan. Significant reduction in thalami and increase in mesiofrontal and frontobasal regions’ volumes were observed mainly in JME patients with PD. Structural alterations of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), involved in regulation of mood reactivity, impulsivity, and social behavior, were also observed. This study supports the hypothesis of frontobasal involvement in the pathophysiology of cluster B PD related to JME.
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.03.011