White matter microstructural changes are associated with alcohol use in patients with panic disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Radiology

Background:

• A strong link between panic disorder (PD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is suspected.
• Investigating white matter (WM) integrity in comorbid PD and AUD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine white matter (WM) volume and integrity differences in patients with PD comorbid with AUD.
• To identify potential neural correlates underlying the comorbidity of PD and AUD.

Main Methods:

• Compared 49 patients with PD-AUD and 20 patients with PD+AUD.
• Utilized voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics for imaging analysis.
• Assessed participants using clinical scales like ASI-R and CAGE questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Observed increased fractional anisotropy (FA) and decreased diffusivity in WM tracts (corpus callosum, internal capsule) in the PD+AUD group.
• Found significant correlations between CAGE scores and FA in the PD+AUD group, and ASI-R scores and FA in the PD-AUD group.
• No significant differences in white matter (WM) volume were detected between groups.

Conclusions:

• Microstructural changes in the corpus callosum and internal capsule are evident in patients with PD and comorbid AUD.
• These WM alterations may serve as significant neural correlates for AUD in the context of PD.
• Findings suggest a neurobiological basis for the PD-AUD comorbidity.