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Meneguzzo P, Collantoni E, Solmi M, Tenconi E, Favaro A. Anorexia nervosa and diffusion weighted imaging: An open methodological question raised by a systematic review and a fractional anisotropy anatomical likelihood estimation meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord 2019; 52:1237-1250. [PMID: 31518016 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by white matter abnormalities in neuroimaging studies. Fractional anisotropy (FA) is a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) index that is considered an instrument for the evaluation of white matter alterations. However, the literature has recently pointed out the role of the partial volume effect (PVE) as a confounding factor for the identification of juxtaposed tissues. Our goal was to review the DTI literature in AN and evaluate possible confounding factors linked to the reported results. METHOD A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify Diffusion Tensor Imaging studies of individuals with AN and, subsequently, an anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis was performed on studies published before March 18, 2019. RESULTS Twenty-four studies (AN = 517, controls = 542) were included in the qualitative systematic review of the literature. Ten published studies underwent the ALE-analysis (AN = 210, controls = 229), plus data from an unpublished cohort (AN = 38, controls = 38). Two clusters of decreased FA were identified, namely in the left corona radiata, and in the left thalamus. Only one article took the PVE correction analysis into account. CONCLUSIONS The alterations identified must be considered within the limits of a possible methodological bias regarding PVE and free water and re-analysis of the data may be recommended. The preliminary data showed that the alteration of white matter pathways between the limbic structures and brain cortex may be linked to the processing of somatosensory information that could play a key role in the psychopathology of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Meneguzzo
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Marco Solmi
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Tenconi
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Angela Favaro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Gaudio S, Carducci F, Piervincenzi C, Olivo G, Schiöth HB. Altered thalamo–cortical and occipital–parietal– temporal–frontal white matter connections in patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2019; 44:324-339. [PMID: 30994310 PMCID: PMC6710091 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.180121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are complex mental disorders, and their etiology is still not fully understood. This paper reviews the literature on diffusion tensor imaging studies in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa to explore the usefulness of white matter microstructural analysis in understanding the pathophysiology of eating disorders. METHODS We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify diffusion tensor imaging studies that compared patients with an eating disorder to control groups. We searched relevant databases for studies published from database inception to August 2018, using combinations of select keywords. We categorized white matter tracts according to their 3 main classes: projection (i.e., thalamo–cortical), association (i.e., occipital–parietal–temporal–frontal) and commissural (e.g., corpus callosum). RESULTS We included 19 papers that investigated a total of 427 participants with current or previous eating disorders and 444 controls. Overall, the studies used different diffusion tensor imaging approaches and showed widespread white matter abnormalities in patients with eating disorders. Despite differences among the studies, patients with anorexia nervosa showed mainly white matter microstructural abnormalities of thalamo–cortical tracts (i.e., corona radiata, thalamic radiations) and occipital–parietal–temporal–frontal tracts (i.e., left superior longitudinal and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi). It was less clear whether white matter alterations persist after recovery from anorexia nervosa. Available data on bulimia nervosa were partially similar to those for anorexia nervosa. LIMITATIONS Study sample composition and diffusion tensor imaging analysis techniques were heterogeneous. The number of studies on bulimia nervosa was too limited to be conclusive. CONCLUSION White matter microstructure appears to be affected in anorexia nervosa, and these alterations may play a role in the pathophysiology of this eating disorder. Although we found white matter alterations in bulimia nervosa that were similar to those in anorexia nervosa, white matter changes in bulimia nervosa remain poorly investigated, and these findings were less conclusive. Further studies with longitudinal designs and multi-approach analyses are needed to better understand the role of white matter changes in eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santino Gaudio
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (Gaudio, Olivo, Schiöth); the Centre for Integrated Research, Area of Diagnostic Imaging, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gaudio); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (Carducci, Piervincenzi); and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia (Schiöth)
| | - Filippo Carducci
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (Gaudio, Olivo, Schiöth); the Centre for Integrated Research, Area of Diagnostic Imaging, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gaudio); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (Carducci, Piervincenzi); and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia (Schiöth)
| | - Claudia Piervincenzi
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (Gaudio, Olivo, Schiöth); the Centre for Integrated Research, Area of Diagnostic Imaging, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gaudio); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (Carducci, Piervincenzi); and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia (Schiöth)
| | - Gaia Olivo
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (Gaudio, Olivo, Schiöth); the Centre for Integrated Research, Area of Diagnostic Imaging, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gaudio); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (Carducci, Piervincenzi); and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia (Schiöth)
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (Gaudio, Olivo, Schiöth); the Centre for Integrated Research, Area of Diagnostic Imaging, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gaudio); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (Carducci, Piervincenzi); and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia (Schiöth)
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