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Thalamic Volume Is Related to Increased Anterior Thalamic Radiations in Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder
Minyoung Jung1,2,3, Shinichiro Takiguchi3,4, Shoko Hamamura3,4
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.
Insights
Children with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) show distinct brain differences, specifically in the thalamus, pallidum, and anterior thalamic radiations (ATR). These findings reveal atypical neurodevelopment in RAD, impacting brain structure and function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is linked to childhood maltreatment, affecting about 1% of children.
- Childhood maltreatment is associated with white and gray matter brain alterations.
- The specific neural mechanisms underlying RAD-related brain changes are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter pathways and gray matter volumes in children with RAD compared to typically developing (TD) children.
- To explore the neural mechanisms of brain alterations associated with RAD.
- To identify potential relationships between specific brain structure changes in RAD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI scans from 31 children with RAD and 41 age-matched TD children.
- Quantitative assessment of white matter integrity using fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity.
- Measurement of gray matter volumes in specific brain regions, including the thalamus and pallidum.
Main Results:
- Children with RAD exhibited increased FA and axial diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiations (ATR).
- Increased gray matter volume was observed in the bilateral pallidum and right thalamus in children with RAD.
- Thalamus volume correlated positively with increased ATR FA in children with RAD.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms atypical neurodevelopment in the thalamus, pallidum, and ATR in children with RAD.
- An interdependent relationship between thalamic volume and ATR white matter integrity was identified in RAD.
- Findings contribute to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying reactive attachment disorder.
Abstract:
Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is associated with childhood maltreatment and affects approximately 1% of the general population. Recent data suggest that childhood maltreatment is associated with brain alterations in white and gray matter. However, the neural mechanisms of RAD-related brain alterations remain unknown. Herein, we evaluated the white matter pathways and gray matter volumes in 31 and 41 age-matched children with RAD and typical development (TD), respectively, by analyzing T1- and diffusion-weighted images. An increased fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiations (ATR) and an increased volume in the bilateral pallidum and right thalamus were observed in children with RAD compared with those with TD. Moreover, the volume of the thalamus was associated with increased ATR FA in children with RAD. Our study confirmed the existence of atypical neurodevelopment processes in the thalamus, pallidum, and ATR in children with RAD and highlighted an interdependent relationship between the alterations in the thalamus and ATR. These findings may help to improve our understanding of the comprehensive neural mechanisms of RAD.
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