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Structural and resting-state connection abnormalities of habenula in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Qian Liu1,2,3, Xiang Wang1,2,3, Yanyuan Cao1,2,3

  • 1Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Psychological Medicine
|March 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is linked to structural and functional changes in the habenula (Hb) and its connections with the hippocampus. These abnormalities may underlie the condition's pathology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • The habenula (Hb) is implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) mechanisms.
  • The precise role of the Hb in OCD pathophysiology requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate structural and functional abnormalities of the habenula (Hb) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • To explore the relationship between these habenula (Hb) abnormalities and clinical symptoms of OCD.

Main Methods:

  • Compared grey matter volume, resting-state functional connectivity (FC), and effective connectivity (EC) of the habenula (Hb) in 80 OCD patients and 85 healthy controls (HCs).
  • Utilized an independent replication dataset to validate findings.
  • Employed dynamic causal modeling to assess effective connectivity.

Main Results:

  • OCD patients showed reduced habenula (Hb) grey matter volume compared to HCs.
  • Increased functional connectivity (FC) between the right habenula (Hb) and left hippocampus was observed in OCD patients.
  • Dynamic causal modeling revealed altered effective connectivity (EC) between the hippocampus and habenula (Hb) in OCD.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal habenula (Hb) structure and hippocampus-habenula (Hb) connectivity are implicated in the pathological basis of OCD.
  • Findings suggest the habenula (Hb) and its connections are potential targets for understanding and treating OCD.
Abstract

Keywords:
effective connectivityfunctional connectivitygrey matter volumehabenulaobsessive-compulsive disorder

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