Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)
Published on: November 27, 2019
Selective reduction in amygdala volume in pediatric anxiety disorders: a voxel-based morphometry investigation
Michael P Milham1, Allison C Nugent, Wayne C Drevets
1Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA. milham01@med.nyu.edu
Background:
Significant controversy has emerged concerning pediatric anxiety disorders. Some researchers question the justification for diagnosing and treating pediatric anxiety disorders, owing to concerns about the inappropriate medicalization of social problems. Others note the importance of diagnosis and treatment, given that pediatric anxiety disorders represent a strong risk factor for serious adult mental disorders. We examine the neural correlates of pediatric anxiety disorders, to consider the validity of the categorization scheme used in recent treatment studies.
Methods:
Using inclusion criteria derived from recent treatment trials, we compared gray matter volume throughout the brain in children with and without anxiety. Morphometric analyses used optimized voxel-based morphometry, an automated method for examining structural changes throughout the brain.
Results:
Reductions in left amygdala gray matter volume were noted for patients with anxiety disorders relative to comparison subjects.
Conclusions:
We discuss implications of these findings for current controversies.
More Related Videos
13:08Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
09:14Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025