ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 65 children and adolescents who were hospitalized with depressive disorders (DD) were compared with the brain MRIs of 18 hospitalized psychiatric controls (PC) without a depressive disorder. METHOD: Volumetric analyses were used to measure frontal lobe volumes (FLV), lateral ventricular volumes (VV), and total cerebral volumes (CV) for all subjects. To correct for differences in absolute cerebral volume associated with different body and head size, the ratios of FLV/CV and VV/CV were used to compare differences between the two groups. A multivariate analysis was used to control for the effects of several independent variables (age, sex, diagnosis). RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in the FLV/CV ratio and the VV/CV ratio when the results were compared between the two groups (DD versus PC). The DD group had a significantly smaller FLV/CV ratio (t = 2.148, df = 79, p = .035) and a significantly larger VV/CV ratio (t = -2.093, df = 79, p = .040). CONCLUSION: The findings are consistent with previous reports in depressed adults and may implicate the frontal lobes in the pathogenesis of early-onset depressive disorders.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Cortex/abnormalities , Cerebral Ventricles/abnormalities , Depressive Disorder/physiopathology , Frontal Lobe/abnormalities , Frontal Lobe/physiopathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/rehabilitation , Electronic Data Processing , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
We report 7 children who received gabapentin (GBP) as adjunctive medic ation and subsequently developed behavioral side effects. These behavioral changes consisted of intensification of baseline behaviors as well as new behavioral problems. Behaviors that parents considered most troublesome were tantrums, aggression directed toward others, hyperactivity, and defiance. All behavioral changes were reversible and were managed by dose reduction or discontinuation of GBP. All children had baseline attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental delays.
Subject(s)
Acetates/adverse effects , Amines , Anticonvulsants/adverse effects , Child Behavior Disorders/chemically induced , Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids , Epilepsy/drug therapy , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid , Aggression/drug effects , Akathisia, Drug-Induced/etiology , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , Developmental Disabilities/epidemiology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Epilepsy/epidemiology , Female , Gabapentin , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
There are few reports of the behavioral manifestations in the pediatric population infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We report a case of a 4-year-old child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, whose initial manifestation of central nervous system involvement consisted of sudden onset of impulsivity, hyperactivity, initial insomnia, and aggressive behavior. This clinical picture may suggest an initial presentation of HIV-1 encephalopathy. Clonidine was helpful in ameliorating these behaviors.
