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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Feb 26;76(5):140–161. doi: 10.1111/pcn.13337

Table 1.

Studies of ENIGMA SZ, BD, MDD, and 22q11DS Disorder Working Groups

Working Group Study (author, year) Cohort N Age Range (Years) Imaging Modality Main Findings
SZ van Erp et al. 201651 15 SZ:2028
HC:2540
SZ:23–42
HC:22–43
sMRI(FreeSurfer subcortical volume) SZ had smaller hippocampus (Cohen’s d = −0.46), amygdala (d = −0.31), thalamus (d = −0.31), accumbens (d = −0.25) and intracranial volumes (d = −0.12), as well as larger pallidum (d = 0.21) and lateral ventricle volumes (d = 0.37).
Kelly et al. 201773 29 SZ:1963
HC:2359
SZ:18–77
HC:18–86
DTI (FA, RD, MD and AD) SZ had a widespread, significant reduction in FA. Effect size was the greatest for the entire WM skeleton (d = 0.42), anterior corona radiata (d = 0.40) and corpus callosum (d = 0.39).
This study shows robust and widespread WM changes in schizophrenia.
Walton et al. 201765 17 SZ:1987 SZ:28–43 sMRI(FreeSurfer superior temporal gyrus thickness) Severity of positive symptoms was negatively associated with superior temporal gyrus thickness of both hemispheres(ßstd = −0.052; P = 0.021; right: ßstd= −0.073; P = 0.001), controlling for age, sex, and site.
Walton et al 201866 17 SZ:1985 SZ:28–43 sMRI(FreeSurfer medial orbitofrontal cortex thickness) Severity of negative symptoms was negatively associated with medial orbitofrontal cortex thickness(βstd = −0.075; p = 0.019), controlling for age, sex, and site
van Erp et al. 201864 39 SZ:4474
HC:5098
SZ:11–78
HC:10–87
sMRI(FreeSurfer cortical thickness and surface area) SZ had a widespread reduction in cortical thickness (left/right hemisphere:Cohen’s d = −0.530/−0.516) and surface area(left/right hemisphere:Cohen’s d = −0.251/−0.254) with the greatest effect sizes for both in frontal and temporal lobe regions.
Holleran et al. 2020105 11 SZ:760
HC:957
NA DTI(gFA, LA-gFA) gFA explained a significant amount of cognitive variation and similar effect sizes were observed in both patients (effect size = 0.20) and healthy participant groups (effect size = 0.32). Comparable patterns of association were also observed between LA-gFA and cognition. However, this association was unrelated to diagnosis.
BD Hibar et al. 201655 20 BD: 1710 HC: 2594 NA sMRI(FreeSurfer subcortical volume and intracranial volume) BD had a significant volume reduction for mean hippocampus (Cohen’s d = −0.232) and thalamus(d = −0.148) and enlarged lateral ventricles (d = −0.260). No significant differences in volume between bipolar subtypes with greater magnitude differences for BDI with controls. Lithium treatment related to larger thalamic volumes.
Hibar et al 2018.67 28 BD:2447
( adult BD: 1837)
HC:4056
( HC: 2582)
NA sMRI (FreeSurfer cortical thickness and surface area)) BD had a thinner cortex in frontal, temporal, parietal regions in both hemispheres with greatest effect sizes for left pars opercularis(cohen d = −0.293), left fusiform gyrus(cohen d = −0.288) and left rostral middle frontal cortex (cohen d = −0.276). A longer duration of illness was associated with a decrease in cortical thickness in the frontal, medial parietal and occipital regions. Lithium intake was associated with increased cortical thickness and had the largest effects in the left paracentral gyrus and the left and right superior parietal gyrus.
Favre et al. 201947 26 BD:1482
HC:1551
18–65 for both groups DTI (FA) BD had a significantly lower FA in 29 regions with greatest effect for the corpus callosum (R2 = 0.041, Pcorr < 0.001) and cingulum (right: R2 = 0.041, left: R2 = 0.040, Pcorr < 0.001). Lithium medication, later onset and shorter disease duration were related to higher FA.
Nunes et al. 2020106 13 BD:853
HC:2167
NA sMRI (regional cortical thickness, surface area, subcortical volumes) Applying machine learning to structural MRI data for differentiating bipolar disorders, accuracies ranged from 45.23% to 81.07% according to sites. Aggregate subject-level analyses showed the highest accuracy(65.23%).There was a substantive agreement between the best performing sites and regions that helped identify BD participants in aggregated datasets (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.83)
Haukvik et al. 202056 23 BD:1472
HC:3226
NA sMRI(FreeSurfer hippocampal subfield segmentation algorithm) BD had smaller hippocampus (Cohen’s d = −0.20), cornu ammonis (CA)1 (d = −0.18), CA2/3(d = −0.11), CA4 (d = −0.19), molecular layer (d = −0.21), granule cell layer of dentate gyrus (d = −0.21), hippocampal tail (d = −0.10), subiculum (d = −0.15), presubiculum(d = −0.18), and hippocampal amygdala transition area (d = −0.17). Lithium use was associated with larger volumes whereas antipsychotic or antiepileptic medication use was associated with smaller subfield volumes.
McWhinney et al. 202157 17 BD:1134 HC: 1601 NA sMRI(Free surfer subcortical volume, lateral ventricles volume) BD had higher body mass index(BMI), larger lateral ventricular volume, and smaller volumes of amygdala, hippocampus, pallidum, caudate, and thalamus. BMI was positively associated with ventricular and amygdala and negatively with pallidal volumes. 18.4 % of the total association between BD and ventricular volume was related to the higher body mass index (BMI) in BD (Z = 2.73, p = 0.006). Other subcortical areas were robustly associated with BD even after controlling BMI, and there was no interaction between BD and BMI in relation to subcortical brain volume.
MDD Schmaal et al. 201658 15 MDD:1728
HC:7199
NA sMRI (FreeSurfer subcortical volume) MDD had a reduced hippocampal volume(Cohen’s d = −0.14, % difference = −1.24). This effect is largely attributed to recurrent depression(Cohen’s d = −0.17, % difference = −1.44) not first onset MDD. Earlier onset age was associated with smaller hippocampal (Cohen’s d = −0.20, % difference = −1.85) and amygdala volume (Cohen’s d = −0.11, % difference = −1.23) and larger lateral ventricle volume (Cohen’s d = 0.12, % difference = 5.11).
Schmaal et al. 201768 20 MDD:2148
HC:7957
NA sMRI(FreeSurfer cortical thickness and surface area) MDD had a reduced cortical volume in the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate, insula and temporal lobes (Cohen’s d effect sizes: −0.10 to −0.14). Patients with the first episode and adult onset showed more pronounced cortical thinning in these areas. There was no difference in cortical thickness between adolescent patients and controls. The total surface area of the left and right hemispheres was smaller in adolescent major depressive disorder.
Frodl et al. 201746 9 MDD:958
HC:2078
NA sMRI(FreeSurfer subcortical gray matter volume,lateral ventricles, and total intracranial volume) Significant interactions between childhood adversity, MDD diagnosis, gender, and site were apparent. The caudate volume is lower in females, independent of MDD, which was associated with increased exposure to adversity in childhood(right caudate: F=10.7, p< 0.001, Bonferroni correction: pcorr<0.007; left caudate F=13.4, p<0.001, pcorr <0.005). All subcategories of childhood adversity were negatively associated with the caudate volume, in females, especially emotional and physical negligence (regardless of age, ICV, imaging site, MDD diagnosis).
Renteria et al. 201759 MDD with suicide :451
MDD
no suicide:650
HC:1996
NA sMRI (FreeSurfer subcortical gray matter volume, lateral ventricles, and total intracranial volume) MDD with suicidal symptoms had a reduced intracranial volume (P = 4.12 × 10−3) or a 2.87% volume reduction (Cohen’s d = −0.284) compared to controls.
van Velzen et al 2018.74 20 MDD:1305
HC:1602
12–88 for both groups DTI (FA, RD) MDD had a widespread lower FA in 16 out of 25 WM tracts of interest (Cohen’s d: 0.12 to 0.26). The most contributing regions were corona radiata and corpus callosum regions. Depressive patients also had a widespread higher RD (Cohen’s d: 0.12 to 0.18). These effects are largely explained by recurrent depression and adult onset depression.
Tozzi et al 202049 12 MDD:1284 HC:2588 13–89 for both groups sMRI (FreeSurfer cortical thickness and surface area) Childhood maltreatment was inversely related to cortical thickness in the banks of the superior temporal sulcus (Wald χ2 = 14.583, p FDR = 0.033, B = −0.001) and supramarginal gyrus (Wald χ2= 8.889, p FDR = 0.049, B = −0.001). A significant negative effect on the surface area of the middle temporal lobe was also reported (Wald χ2 = 12.368, p FDR = 0.015, B = −1.504). Individuals with a history of both childhood neglect and abuse were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the inferior parietal lobe (Wald χ2 = 15.273, p FDR = 0.023), middle temporal lobe (Wald χ2 = 15.273, p FDR = 0.023) and precuneus (Wald χ2 = 15.325, p FDR = 0.023).
Han et al. 2020107 19 MDD:2675
HC:4314
18–75 for both groups sMRI(FreeSurfer cortical thickness, surface area, lateral ventricles and total intracranial volume) MDD had a higher brain-predicted age difference (brain PAD) of +1.08 (SE 0.22) years (Cohen’s d = 0.14, 95% CI 0.08–0.20).
de Kovel et al. 2019 108 31(Cortical regions), 32(Subcortical regions) Cortical regions-MDD:2256 HC:3504 Subcortical regions-MDD: 2540 HC:4230 NA sMRI(FreeSurfer subcortical volumes, cortical thickness and surface area) No significant effects of MDD diagnosis were found for any of the cortical thickness, cortical surface, or subcortical volume asymmetry index (AI) after correction for multiple testing. The strongest effect of diagnosis involved a Cohen’s d value of 0.085 for the superior temporal gyrus thickness AI, which was not significant after adjustment for multiple testing.
Ho et al. 202061 10 MDD:1781
HC: 2953
NA sMRI (shape metrics (thickness and surface area) on the surface of seven bilateral subcortical structures: nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) Adolescent-onset MDD (≤21 years) had a reduced thickness and surface area of hippocampal ammonis cornea (CA) 1 and basolateral amygdala (Cohen’s d = −0.164 to −0.180). Patients with recurrent MDD had lower hippocampal CA1 and basolateral amygdala thickness and surface area (Cohen’s d = −0.173 to −0.184) compared to the first episode of MDD.
Leerssen et al. 202072 15 MDD:1053 HC:2108 BD(clinical control):260 13–79 sMRI(cortical thickness, surface area and subcortical volumes) MDD patients with more severe insomnia had a smaller surface area of the right insula( f2= 0.02, ΔR2 = 1.5%, pcorr= 0.031), left inferior frontal gyrus pars triangularis (f2 = 0.02, ΔR2 = 1.8%, pcorr = 0.018), the left frontal pole (f2 = 0.01, ΔR2 =0.6%, pcorr = 0.031), right superior parietal cortex (f2 = 0.02, ΔR2 = 1.6%, pcorrected = 0.026), right medial OFC (f2 = 0.02, ΔR2 = 1.3%, pcorr = 0.031), and the right supramarginal gyrus (f2 = 0.02, ΔR2 = 1.3%, pcorrected = 0.031). Associations were specific for insomnia severity and MDD diagnosis (not for overall depression severity, HC, BD)
Opel et al. 202071 28 MDD:2901 HC:3519 NA sMRI(total and regional cortical thickness and surface area and measures of subcortical and intracranial volumes) Obesity was associated with lower cortical thickness (most pronounced in the temporo-frontal lobe, maximum Cohen ´s d (left fusiform gyrus) = −0.33), regionally specific cortical surface area alterations, and increased subcortical volume in the amygdala, the thalamus and the nucleus accumbens.
Campos et al. 202160 18 MDD:6448 (of whom, attempted suicide:694) HC:12477 NA sMRI(regional cortical thickness and surface area and measures of subcortical, lateral ventricular, and intracranial volumes) Depressed suicidal attempters had smaller volumes in the left and right thalamus and right pallidum compared with both clinical (Cohen’s d = −0.13, −0.14, and −0.12, respectively) and healthy control. Attempeters also had smaller surface area in the left inferior parietal lobe after multiple correction when compared with clinical control(Cohen’s d = −0.12).
22q11DS Sun et al. 201870 10 22q11DS:474
HC:315
NA sMRI(FreeSurfer cortical thickness and surface area) 22q11DS had thicker cortical gray matter overall (left/right hemispheres: Cohen’s d = 0.61/0.65), but thinner temporal and cingulate cortex. 22q11DS had a smaller surface area (left/right hemispheres: d = −1.01/−1.02). These neuroanatomic patterns could differentiate 22q11DS with 93.8% accuracy. 22q11DS subjects with psychosis showed thinner cortex compared to those without psychosis and 22q11DS-psychosis and idiopathic schizophrenia showed significant convergence of affected brain regions, especially in the frontotemporal cortex. Results showed a strong effect of deletion size on local cortical surface area, most notably in the frontal and parietal lobes.
Villalón-Reina et al. 201948 10 22q11DS:334
HC:260
6–52 for both groups DTI(FA, MD, RD, AD) 22q11DS had widespread smaller MD, RD, AD, most prominent in areas with major cortico-cortical and cortico-thalamic fibers (Cohen’s d= −0.9 to −1.3). 22q11DS showed higher mean partial anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum and projection fibers (internal capsule and corona radiata) compared to controls, but lower FA than controls primarily in areas with associative fibers. Psychosis of 22q11DS was associated with a more substantial reduction in diffusion coefficient in multiple regions.
Ching et al. 202063 11 22q11DS: 533
HC: 330
6–56 for both groups sMRI(gross volume and subcortical shape morphometry) 22q11DS had a lower intracranial volume (ICV), thalamus, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala volume and larger lateral ventricles, caudate nucleus, and nucleus accumbens (Cohen’s d=−0.90–0.93). Results showed widespread subcortical structure changes, affected by deletion size and psychotic illness. 22q11DS with psychosis demonstrated significant convergence with idiopathic schizophrenia, and other severe neuropsychiatric illnesses.

N, Number; SZ, Schizophrenia; BD, bipolar disorder; MDD, major depressive disorder; 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, 22q11DS; HC, Healthy Control; NA, not available; DTI, diffusion tensor imaging; FA, fractional anisotropy; RD, radial diffusivity; MD, mean diffusivity; AD, axial diffusivity; gFA, global fractional anisotropy component; LA-gFA, fractional anisotropy component for six long association tracts.