The neural correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a multimodal perspective

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe psychiatric condition with complex neurobiological underpinnings.
• Previous research often focused on isolated brain alterations, potentially missing broader network effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate integrated structural and functional brain alterations in OCD using multimodal MRI.
• To explore associations between volumetric changes and functional connectivity (FC) networks in OCD patients.

Main Methods:

• Multimodal MRI including voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) analysis.
• Network-based statistic methodology applied to the whole-brain functional connectome.
• Mediation models to integrate structural and functional findings.

Main Results:

• OCD patients showed reduced gray matter volume in the right superior temporal sulcus.
• Significantly decreased FC was observed in two subnetworks involving orbitofrontal cortex, temporal poles, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex.
• Increased FC was found in a network connecting thalamic and occipital regions.
• Integrative models demonstrated direct and indirect associations between structural and functional alterations.

Conclusions:

• OCD is associated with widespread alterations in brain structure and FC, affecting complex neural networks.
• Direct and indirect links between structural and functional brain changes offer insights into OCD pathophysiology.