Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): a review

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of OCD is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize findings from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies on white-matter integrity in OCD patients.
• To identify common patterns of white matter alterations in adult and pediatric OCD populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published studies utilizing diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
• Analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) and other DTI metrics to assess white matter integrity.
• Comparison of white matter findings between OCD patients (adults and pediatric) and healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Consistent evidence of white matter abnormalities in OCD patients.
• Adult OCD patients commonly exhibit decreased white matter integrity (reduced FA) in the cingulate bundle, corpus callosum, and anterior limb of the internal capsule.
• Pediatric and adolescent OCD patients show preliminary evidence suggesting increased white matter connectivity.

Conclusions:

• White matter alterations are implicated in the neurobiology of OCD across age groups.
• Observed white matter changes may differ between adult and pediatric populations.
• These alterations may correlate with clinical characteristics and could be influenced by pharmacologic treatments, warranting further investigation.