Brain structural correlates of sensory phenomena in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Author(s):Show less -

Subira, Marta ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Sato, Joao R. ^[4] ; Alonso, Pino ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; do Rosario, Maria C. ^[5] ; Segalas, Cinto ^{[1, 2]} ; Batistuzzo, Marcelo C. ^[6] ; Real, Eva ^{[1, 2]} ; Lopes, Antonio C. ^[6] ; Cerrillo, Ester ^[1] ; Diniz, Juliana B. ^[6] ; Pujol, Jesus ^[7] ; Assis, Rachel O. ^[6] ; Menchon, Jose M. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Shavitt, Roseli G. ^[6] ; Busatto, Geraldo F. ^[6] ; Cardoner, Narcis ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Miguel, Euripedes C. ^[6] ; Hoexter, Marcelo Q. ^[6] ; Soriano-Mas, Carles ^{[1, 2, 8]}

Affiliation

^[1] Bellvitge Univ Hosp, Bellvitge Biomed Res Inst IDIBELL, Dept Psychiat, Barcelona 08907 - Spain

^[2] Carlos III Hlth Inst, Ctr Invest Biomed Red Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Madrid - Spain

^[3] Univ Barcelona, Sch Med, Dept Clin Sci, Barcelona - Spain

^[4] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, Santo Andre - Brazil

^[5] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychiat, Children & Adolescent Psychiat Unit UPIA, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept & Inst Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Hosp del Mar, CRC Mar, MRI Res Unit, Barcelona - Spain

^[8] Autonomous Univ Barcelona, Dept Psychobiol & Methodol Hlth Sci, E-08193 Barcelona - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY & NEUROSCIENCE; v. 40, n. 4, p. 232-240, JUL 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

Background Sensory phenomena (SP) are uncomfortable feelings, including bodily sensations, sense of inner tension, just-right perceptions, feelings of incompleteness, or urge-only phenomena, which have been described to precede, trigger or accompany repetitive behaviours in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sensory phenomena are also observed in individuals with tic disorders, and previous research suggests that sensorimotor cortex abnormalities underpin the presence of SP in such patients. However, to our knowledge, no studies have assessed the neural correlates of SP in patients with OCD. Methods We assessed the presence of SP using the University of SAo Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale in patients with OCD and healthy controls from specialized units in SAo Paulo, Brazil, and Barcelona, Spain. All participants underwent a structural magnetic resonance examination, and brain images were examined using DARTEL voxel-based morphometry. We evaluated grey matter volume differences between patients with and without SP and healthy controls within the sensorimotor and premotor cortices. Results We included 106 patients with OCD and 87 controls in our study. Patients with SP (67% of the sample) showed grey matter volume increases in the left sensorimotor cortex in comparison to patients without SP and bilateral sensorimotor cortex grey matter volume increases in comparison to controls. No differences were observed between patients without SP and controls. Limitations Most patients were medicated. Participant recruitment and image acquisition were performed in 2 different centres. Conclusion We have identified a structural correlate of SP in patients with OCD involving grey matter volume increases within the sensorimotor cortex; this finding is in agreement with those of tic disorder studies showing that abnormal activity and volume increases within this region are associated with the urges preceding tic onset. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/21357-9 - Research on neural circuits and biological markers involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder using behavioral paradigms of fear and anxiety
• Grantee: Eurípedes Constantino Miguel Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/00506-1 - Time series, wavelets and functional data analysis
• Grantee: Pedro Alberto Morettin
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/00968-0 - Fear conditioning, extinction and recall in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients pre- and post-treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
• Grantee: Juliana Belo Diniz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/22536-0 - Search by morphometric brain alterations correlated with the presence or absence of sensory phenomena in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder
• Grantee: Rachel Oliveira de Assis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 13/10498-6 - Machine learning in neuroimaging: development of methods and clinical applications in psychiatric disorders
• Grantee: João Ricardo Sato
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants