The pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder revealed by multi-modal neuroimaging

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791223
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: TAKASHI Nakamae 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (50542891)
• Research Collaborator: NISHIDA Seiji ; SAKAI Yuki
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 強迫性障害 / 核磁気共鳴画像(MRI)

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging technique. Analysis of T1-weighted images showed reduced grey matter volumes in several brain regions including the insula in patients with OCD compared to healthy controls. Analysis of diffusion weighted images revealed abnormal topography and increased structural connectivity of white matter fibers that connect the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventral striatum in patients with OCD compared to healthy controls. These results suggested that not only fronto-strital circuits but also other brain regions including the insula are associated with pathophysiology of OCD.

Free Research Field

精神神経科学