RESUMO
Objective To find frontal lobe-amygdala functional connections in different age paragraph female patients with bipolar disorder. Methods The FMRI date were acquired from 30 patients with bipolar disorder aged 13 to 25 years old and 30 age-and education level-and gender-matched health controls.FMRI was also conducted on 30 patients with bipolar disorder aged 26 to 45 years old and 30 age-and education level-and gender-matched health controls.The date was calculated by using MATLAB based DPARSF software. Results Compared with corresponding health controls, the lobe-amygdala functional connections significantly decreased in patients aged 13 to 25 years but remained unchanged in patients aged 26 to 45 years old. Conclusions The decrease in the frontal lobe-amygdala functional connections decreased in female patients aged 13 to 25 years old may be related to the underdevelopment in vulnerable immature brain.In contrast, the frontal lobe-amygdala functional connections in female patients aged 26 to 45 years old remain intact.