Grey matter abnormalities in social anxiety disorder: A pilot study
Date
2012
Authors
Syal S.
Hattingh C.J.
Fouche J.-P.
Spottiswoode B.
Carey P.D.
Lochner C.
Stein D.J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
While a number of studies have explored the functional neuroanatomy of social anxiety disorder (SAD), data on grey matter integrity are lacking. We conducted structural MRI scans to examine the cortical thickness of grey matter in individuals with SAD. 13 unmedicated adult patients with a primary diagnosis of generalized social anxiety disorder and 13 demographically (age, gender and education) matched healthy controls underwent 3T structural magnetic resonance imaging. Cortical thickness and subcortical volumes were estimated using an automated algorithm (Freesurfer Version 4.5). Compared to controls, social anxiety disorder patients showed significant bilateral cortical thinning in the fusiform and post central regions. Additionally, right hemisphere specific thinning was found in the frontal, temporal, parietal and insular cortices of individuals with social anxiety disorder. Although uncorrected cortical grey matter volumes were significantly lower in individuals with SAD, we did not detect volumetric differences in corrected amygdala, hippocampal or cortical grey matter volumes across study groups. Structural differences in grey matter thickness between SAD patients and controls highlight the diffuse neuroanatomical networks involved in both social anxiety and social behavior. Additional work is needed to investigate the causal mechanisms involved in such structural abnormalities in SAD. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.
Description
Article
Keywords
Cortical thickness, MRI, Social anxiety disorder, Social behaviour, Structural abnormalities
Citation
Metabolic Brain Disease
27
3
299
309
27
3
299
309