Decoding Anxiety and/or Depressive Status in Functional Constipation: Insights From Surface-Based...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Patients with functional constipation (FC) exhibit increased susceptibility to anxiety and depression.
• The precise mechanisms of gut-brain interactions in FC remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neurophysiological differences in functional constipation patients with and without anxiety/depressive status (FCAD and FCNAD).
• To explore the relationship between functional-structural coupling and psychiatric comorbidities in FC.

Main Methods:

• Included 39 FCAD patients, 32 FCNAD patients, and 42 healthy controls.
• Utilized MRI scans to assess functional-structural coupling via regional homogeneity and cortical thickness.
• Employed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses for predictive value assessment.

Main Results:

• Asymmetric hemispheric decoupling observed in FCAD patients, with decreased coupling in the left hemisphere, visual cortex, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and left posterior cingulate cortex.
• ROC analysis indicated high predictive accuracy for coupling ratios in the bilateral visual cortex.
• Specific sub-regions demonstrated significant sensitivity and specificity in differentiating patient groups.

Conclusions:

• FCAD patients exhibit asymmetric hemispheric decoupling and impaired visual and default mode networks.
• Findings provide novel insights into the neurophysiological underpinnings of FCAD.
• Results may facilitate the development of personalized therapeutic strategies for FC.