Grey matter abnormalities in trichotillomania: morphometric magnetic resonance imaging study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Psychiatry
• Neurobiology

Background:

• Trichotillomania is a psychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive hair-pulling.
• The neurobiological underpinnings of trichotillomania remain poorly understood.
• Previous neuroimaging studies have not examined the entire brain in trichotillomania patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whole-brain grey and white matter abnormalities in individuals with trichotillomania.
• To identify specific brain regions affected by this disorder.

Main Methods:

• Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 18 patients diagnosed with trichotillomania.
• 19 healthy individuals served as controls.
• Computational morphometry was employed to analyze differences in grey and white matter between groups.

Main Results:

• Patients with trichotillomania exhibited increased grey matter density in several brain regions.
• These regions included the left striatum and left amygdalo-hippocampal formation.
• Bilateral cortical regions, such as the cingulate, supplementary motor, and frontal areas, also showed increased grey matter.

Conclusions:

• Trichotillomania is associated with structural alterations in grey matter.
• These changes occur in neural circuits crucial for habit learning, cognitive functions, and emotional regulation.
• Findings provide a basis for animal models and identify targets for future translational research.