Grey matter structural alterations in anxiety disorders: a voxel-based meta-analysis
Han Liu1,2, Zeqi Hao1,2, Shasha Qiu1,2
1School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|December 27, 2023
Summary
This meta-analysis identified common brain grey matter volume abnormalities in anxiety disorders (ADs). Patients with ADs showed altered grey matter volume in regions including the insula, thalamus, and caudate compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Anxiety disorders (ADs) are prevalent mental illnesses with unclear neuropathology.
- Previous studies using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) show inconsistent findings on grey matter volume (GMV) abnormalities in ADs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common GMV abnormalities in ADs by meta-analyzing individual studies.
- To consolidate existing research and clarify the neuropathological basis of ADs.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
- Meta-analysis using anisotropic effect-size signed differential mapping (AES-SDM).
- Inclusion of 24 studies with 906 patients with ADs and 1003 healthy controls (HCs).
Main Results:
- Increased GMV in the left superior parietal gyrus, right angular gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and right lingual gyrus in patients with ADs compared to HCs.
- Decreased GMV in the bilateral insula, bilateral thalamus, left caudate, and right putamen in patients with ADs compared to HCs.
Conclusions:
- Identified specific brain regions with abnormal GMV associated with the pathology of ADs.
- Findings contribute to a better understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders.
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