Elucidation of the endophenotype of obsessive-compulsive disorder by integrated analysis of cognitive function, brain imaging and genes

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K10253
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Murayama Keitaro 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20645981)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中尾 智博 九州大学, 大学病院, 講師 (50423554) ; 樋渡 昭雄 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (30444855) ; 光安 博志 九州大学, 大学病院, 特別教員 (00533176)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: エンドフェノタイプ / 強迫症 / 認知機能障害 / 脳画像

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to identify the biological indicator by the endophenotype of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). We planed to investigate the differences of the brain activity and neuropsychological function between OCD, their first degree siblings and healthy controls(HC). However, we could not complete this study because we could not recruit enough number of the first degree siblings of the OCD patients.
We, however, explored the difference between OCD and HC groups in the functional brain network related to impaired cognitive flexibility by using a seed-based approach from dorsal striatal regions of interest. Significant differences between the OCD and HC groups were identified in the resting state functional network from the dorsal caudate. Increased functional connectivity from the dorsal caudate to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula was associated with poorer cognitive flexibility in the OCD group.

Free Research Field

精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

薬剤を内服していない強迫症における安静時脳内ネットワークの研究報告は世界的にも数が少ない。本研究ではそのような強迫症においては、健常群と比較して安静時における脳ネットワークの異常、特にデフォルトモードネットワークや顕著性ネットワークの機能的結合の低下と認知的非柔軟性の低下が関連していることを導き出した。このことは強迫症の脳ネットワークの機能的結合の異常と認知機能障害に関連があるという貴重な知見を報告でき、学術的意義があったと考える。