Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were performed on 17 patients
with primary affective disorder and 21 normal subjects. A coronal slice
through the temporal lobes at the level of the pons and interpeduncular
cistern was selected in each subject, and specific temporal lobe structures
and the cerebral area were measured. Ratios between structures of the same
hemisphere were calculated. The ratio of the temporal lobe to cerebral area
was smaller in patients than controls both on the left (p less than .02)
and on the right (p less than .03). The data suggest that patients with
primary affective disorder may have a relative decrease in the size of the
temporal lobe compared with normal controls.Abstract Teaser