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. 2011 Jan;36(1):42-6.
doi: 10.1503/jpn.100082.

White matter microstructure in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Emre Bora  1 , Ben J Harrison, Alex Fornito, Luca Cocchi, Jesus Pujol, Leonardo F Fontenelle, Dennis Velakoulis, Christos Pantelis, Murat Yücel
Affiliations

White matter microstructure in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Emre Bora et al. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have reported inconsistent findings, and it is not known whether observed findings are related to abnormalities in axonal structure or myelination.

Methods: In this DTI study, we investigated fractional anisotropy, as well as axial and radial diffusivity, in 21 patients with OCD and 29 healthy controls.

Results: We found decreased fractional anisotropy in the body of the corpus callosum in the OCD group, which was underpinned by increased radial diffusivity.

Limitations: The cross-sectional design was the main limitation.

Conclusion: Our findings of increased radial diffusivity provide preliminary evidence for abnormal myelination in patients with OCD.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diffusion tensor images showing (A) the mean fractional anisotropy skeleton representing the centres of all tracts common to the participants as determined by Tract-Based Spatial Statistics and (B–D) reduction of fractional anisotropy in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder compared with controls.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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