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Relationship between symptom dimensions and brain morphology in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Motohisa Hirose1,2, Yoshiyuki Hirano3,4, Kiyotaka Nemoto5
1Research Center for Child Mental Development, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|October 13, 2016
Summary
This study links specific brain regions to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom dimensions. Gray matter in the right thalamus correlates with washing symptoms, and white matter in the left angular gyrus with hoarding symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is clinically heterogeneous, with symptom dimensions potentially linked to distinct brain abnormalities.
- Neuroimaging studies on OCD brain abnormalities show controversial results, possibly due to clinical heterogeneity.
- Previous research suggests a link between autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) traits and brain morphology in OCD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between OCD symptom dimensions and brain morphology using voxel-based morphometry.
- To identify specific brain regions (gray and white matter) associated with distinct OCD symptom dimensions.
- To explore correlations between symptom dimension scores and brain volumes, controlling for confounding factors.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze brain morphology in 33 OCD patients.
- Symptom dimension severities were assessed using the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R).
- Correlations between gray/white matter volumes and symptom dimensions were examined, controlling for age, gender, ASD traits, and other symptom dimensions.
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was found between the washing symptom dimension score and gray matter volume in the right thalamus.
- A significant negative correlation was observed between the hoarding symptom dimension score and white matter volume in the left angular gyrus.
- These findings suggest specific regional gray and white matter alterations contribute to OCD symptom dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Specific brain regions in both gray and white matter are associated with distinct symptom dimensions in OCD.
- The right thalamus (gray matter) is linked to washing symptoms, and the left angular gyrus (white matter) to hoarding symptoms.
- These preliminary findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of OCD heterogeneity.
Keywords:
Hoarding symptomObsessive-compulsive disorderObsessive-compulsive inventory-revisedThalamusVoxel-based morphometryWashing symptomMore Related Videos
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