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. 2025 Jan 2;25(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-06460-1.

Shared and distinct morphometric similarity network abnormalities in generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder

Guifeng Tan #  1   2 , Minlan Yuan #  1   2 , Lun Li  1   2 , Hongru Zhu  1   2   3 , Su Lui  4 , Changjian Qiu  1   2 , Wei Zhang  5   6   7   8
Affiliations

Shared and distinct morphometric similarity network abnormalities in generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder

Guifeng Tan et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: The high comorbidity and symptom overlap of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD), has led to the study of their shared and disorder-specific neural substrates. However, the morphometric similarity network (MSN) differences among these disorders remain unknown.

Methods: MSN derived from T1-weighted images in patients of GAD, PTSD, and SAD, and health controls (HC) using a Siemens 3T magnetic resonance imaging system. Covariance analysis and post hoc tests were used to investigate group differences. In addition, the relationship between MSN and clinical characteristics was analyzed.

Results: Increased morphometric similarity (MS) between left bankssts (BA22, superior temporal cortex, STC) and right precentral gyrus, and decreased MS between left precentral gyrus and right cuneus_part1/part2, and between right rostral middle frontal cortex (rMFC) and right STC were common in GAD and PTSD relative to HC and SAD. Compared to the other three groups, SAD exhibited disorder-specific alterations of increased MS between right rMFC and right STC, and between left cuneus and right inferior parietal cortex. Additionally, increased regional MSN in left precentral gyrus was found in PTSD compared to HC and SAD. A mild positive correlation of the MS value between left bankssts and right precentral gyrus and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores (uncorrected p = 0.041) was found in PTSD.

Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence for common and distinct brain MSN abnormalities underlying the pathophysiology of GAD, PTSD, and SAD, which may aid in differential diagnosis and determining potential disorder-specific intervention targets.

Keywords: Generalized anxiety disorder; Morphometric similarity network; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Social anxiety disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Therefore, the Medical Ethics Council of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, approved the current study which was registered on the Clinical Trials website (ChiCTR2100041598), and each participant signed a written informed consent form. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Visual representation of the main analytical process for group differences of MSN among GAD, PTSD, SAD and HC. (a) T1-weighted images acquisition from participants. (b) Extracting seven MRI features according to D-K 308 regions. (c) A 308 ×308 MSN matrix for each participant based on the extracted seven MRI features. (d) An F-value map of 308 regions was computed by ANCOVA among four groups. (e) Five edges in MSN were determined after testing for significance and multiple comparison correction (FDR correction, p < 0.01): bankssts_part1_L to precentral_part4_R; precentral_part5_L to cuneus_part1_; precentral_part5_L to cuneus_part2_R; rostral middle frontal_part1_R to superior temporal_part2_R; cuneus_part1_L to inferior parietal_part8_R. (Note: GAD, generalized anxiety disorder; HC, healthy controls; IPC, Inferior parietal cortex; L, left; MSN, morphometric similarity network; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; R, right; rMFC, rostral middle frontal cortex; SAD, social anxiety disorder; STC, superior temporal cortex)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The results of post hoc tests for MS values among five edges and the correlation between clinical assessment scores and MS values. (a) left bankssts to right precentral gyrus, (b) left precentral gyrus to right cuneus_part_1, (c) left precentral gyrus to right cuneus_part2, (d) right rMFC and right STC, (e) left cuneus to right IPC. (f) a mild positive correlation of the MS values between left bankssts and right precentral gyrus and HAMA scores in PTSD. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.001. (Note: GAD, generalized anxiety disorder; HAMA, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; HC, healthy controls; IPC, inferior parietal cortex; L, left; MS, morphometric similarity; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; R, right; rMFC, rostral middle frontal cortex; SAD, social anxiety disorder; STC, superior temporal cortex)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Analysis of regional MSN. (a) ANCOVA analysis of significant group differences for regional MSN alterations among SAD, GAD, PTSD and HC in left precentral gyrus. (b) A post hoc test among SAD, GAD, PTSD and HC in left precentral gyrus. (Note: GAD, generalized anxiety disorder; HC, healthy controls; L, left; MSN, morphometric similarity network; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; R, right; SAD, social anxiety disorder)
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