White Matter Abnormalities of Fronto-Striato-Thalamic Circuitry in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Study Using Diffusion Spectrum Imaging Tractography
Resource
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH-NEUROIMAGING v.192 n.3 pp.176-182
Journal
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH-NEUROIMAGING
Journal Volume
v.192
Journal Issue
n.3
Pages
176-182
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
CHIU, CHEN-HUAN
LO, YU-CHUN
TANG, HWA-SHENG
LIU, I-CHAO
CHIANG, WEN-YANG
YEH, FANG-CHENG
JAW, FU-SHAN
TSENG, WEN-YIH
Abstract
Previous studies have reported white matter abnormalities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD. This study aimed to further explore white matter abnormalities in OCD patients through diffusion spectrum imaging DSI and tractography of the two white matter tracts which most probably play an important role in OCD neuropathology: the anterior segment of cingulum bundles ACB and the anterior thalamic radiations ATR. Twelve right-handed, medicated adult patients with OCD and 12 matched controls underwent DSI on a 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging MRI system. Tractography based on DSI data was reconstructed to define the ACB and ATR. Mean generalized fractional anisotropy GFA was calculated for each targeted tract and was used to analyze local changes in microstructural integrity along individual tracts. There was a significantly lower mean GFA in both the right ATR and left ACB in OCD subjects compared to controls. OCD subjects also demonstrated decreased left- lateralized asymmetry of the ACB when compared to controls. Furthermore, the mean GFA of the left ACB positively correlated with OCD subjects obsessive subscores on the Yale -Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale. This study supports the white matter abnormalities in the ACB and ATR of OCD subjects , which corroborates neurobiological models that posit a defect in fronto- striato-thalamic circuitry in OCD.
Subjects
Cingulum bundle
Anterior thalamic radiation
Generalized fractional anisotropy