The Cerebellum’s Role in Affective Disorders: The Onset of Its Social Dimension

Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) are the most frequent mental disorders whose indeterminate etiopathogenesis spurs to explore new aetiologic scenarios. In light of the neuropsychiatric symptoms characterizing Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome (CCAS), the objective of this narrative review is to analyze the involvement of the cerebellum (Cbm) in the onset of these conditions. It aims at detecting the repercussions of the Cbm activities on mood disorders based on its functional subdivision in vestibulocerebellum (vCbm), pontocerebellum (pCbm) and spinocerebellum (sCbm). Despite the Cbm having been, for decades, associated with somato-motor functions, the described intercellular pathways, without forgiving the molecular impairment and the alteration in the volumetric relationships, make the Cbm a new important therapeutic target for MDD and BD. Given that numerous studies have showed its activation during mnestic activities and socio-emotional events, this review highlights in the Cbm, in which the altered external space perception (vCbm) is strictly linked to the cognitive-limbic Cbm (pCbm and sCbm), a crucial role in the MDD and BD pathogenesis. Finally, by the analysis of the cerebellar activity, this study aims at underlying not only the Cbm involvement in affective disorders, but also its role in social relationship building.

Tic-Related Obsessive–Compulsive and Eating Disorders in Dandy–Walker Variant: A Case Report and Systematic Reappraisal of Psychiatric Profiles

“…The clinical presentation of DWC is heterogeneous and influenced by multiple factors, including the severity of hydrocephalus, intracranial hypertension, cerebellum-related motor and coordination deficits, and associated neurodevelopmental and behavioral comorbidities [6]. Indeed, both cerebellar gray matter volume reduction [7][8][9] and disrupted connections to specific brain areas (e.g., prefrontal, superior temporal, posterior parietal, limbic cortices) [7,10] underpinning social functions [11,12], language [10,11,13], repetitive behaviors [8], cognitive processes [11,13], and affective regulation [12,13], seem to Brain Sci. 2024, 14, 362 2 of 20 be implicated in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and mood disorders (Figure 1).…”

“…2024, 14, 362 2 of 20 be implicated in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and mood disorders (Figure 1). [12,13], seem to be implicated in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and mood disorders (Figure 1).…”