What we learn about bipolar disorder from large‐scale neuroimaging: Findings and future directions from the ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group
Authors: Ching Christopher R. K. , Hibar Derrek P. , Gurholt Tiril P. , Nunes Abraham , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Abé Christoph , Agartz Ingrid , Brouwer Rachel M. , Cannon Dara M. , de Zwarte Sonja M. C. , Eyler Lisa T. , Favre Pauline , Hajek Tomas , Haukvik Unn K. , Houenou Josselin , Landén Mikael , Lett Tristram A. , McDonald Colm , Nabulsi Leila , Patel Yash , Pauling Melissa E. , Paus Tomas , Radua Joaquim , Soeiro‐de‐Souza Marcio G. , Tronchin Giulia , van Haren Neeltje E. M. , Vieta Eduard , Walter Henrik , Zeng Ling‐Li , Alda Martin , Almeida Jorge , Alnæs Dag , Alonso‐Lana Silvia , Altimus Cara , Bauer Michael , Baune Bernhard T. , Bearden Carrie E. , Bellani Marcella , Benedetti Francesco , Berk Michael , Bilderbeck Amy C. , Blumberg Hilary P. , Bøen Erlend , Bollettini Irene , del Mar Bonnin Caterina , Brambilla Paolo , Canales‐Rodríguez Erick J. , Caseras Xavier , Dandash Orwa , Dannlowski Udo , Delvecchio Giuseppe , Díaz‐Zuluaga Ana M. , Dima Danai , Duchesnay Édouard , Elvsåshagen Torbjørn , Fears Scott C. , Frangou Sophia , Fullerton Janice M. , Glahn David C. , Goikolea Jose M. , Green Melissa J. , Grotegerd Dominik , Gruber Oliver , Haarman Bartholomeus C. M. , Henry Chantal , Howells Fleur M. , Ives‐Deliperi Victoria , Jansen Andreas , Kircher Tilo T. J. , Knöchel Christian , Kramer Bernd , Lafer Beny , López‐Jaramillo Carlos , Machado‐Vieira Rodrigo , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Melloni Elisa M. T. , Mitchell Philip B. , Nenadic Igor , Nery Fabiano , Nugent Allison C. , Oertel Viola , Ophoff Roel A. , Ota Miho , Overs Bronwyn J. , Pham Daniel L. , Phillips Mary L. , Pineda‐Zapata Julian A. , Poletti Sara , Polosan Mircea , Pomarol‐Clotet Edith , Pouchon Arnaud , Quidé Yann , Rive Maria M. , Roberts Gloria , Ruhe Henricus G. , Salvador Raymond , Sarró Salvador , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Schene Aart H. , Sim Kang , Soares Jair C. , Stäblein Michael , Stein Dan J. , Tamnes Christian K. , Thomaidis Georgios V. , Upegui Cristian Vargas , Veltman Dick J. , Wessa Michèle , Westlye Lars T. , Whalley Heather C. , Wolf Daniel H. , Wu Mon‐Ju , Yatham Lakshmi N. , Zarate Carlos A. , Thompson Paul M. , Andreassen Ole A. ,   ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group
Published: July 2020

MRI‐derived brain measures offer a link between genes, the environment and behavior and have been widely studied in bipolar disorder (BD). However, many neuroimaging studies of BD have been underpowered, leading to varied results and uncertainty regarding effects. The Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Bipolar Disorder Working Group was formed in 2012 to empower discoveries, generate consensus findings and inform future hypothesis‐driven studies of BD. Through this effort, over 150 researchers from 20 countries and 55 institutions pool data and resources to produce the largest neuroimaging studies of BD ever conducted. The ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group applies standardized processing and analysis techniques to empower large‐scale meta‐ and mega‐analyses of multimodal brain MRI and improve the replicability of studies relating brain variation to clinical and genetic data. Initial BD Working Group studies reveal widespread patterns of lower cortical thickness, subcortical volume and disrupted white matter integrity associated with BD. Findings also include mapping brain alterations of common medications like lithium, symptom patterns and clinical risk profiles and have provided further insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of BD. Here we discuss key findings from the BD working group, its ongoing projects and future directions for large‐scale, collaborative studies of mental illness.