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Brambilla P, Como G, Isola M, Taboga F, Zuliani R, Goljevscek S, Ragogna M, Brondani G, Baiano M, Perini L, Ferro A, Bazzocchi M, Zuiani C, Balestrieri M. White-matter abnormalities in the right posterior hemisphere in generalized anxiety disorder: a diffusion imaging study. Psychol Med 2012; 42:427-434. [PMID: 21781374 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291711001255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior imaging studies have shown structural, functional and biochemical impairments in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), particularly in the right hemisphere. In this study we investigated, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the white-matter microstructure organization in GAD. METHOD A total of 12 patients with DSM-IV GAD and 15 matched healthy controls underwent a magnetic resonance imaging session of diffusion weighted imaging, exploring white-matter water molecules by the means of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). Regions of interests were placed in the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes and in the splenium and genu of the corpus callosum, bilaterally. RESULTS ADC measures were significantly greater in patients with GAD in the right splenium and right parietal cortex compared with healthy controls (p⩽0.002). No significant correlations between ADCs and age or clinical variables were found. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that GAD is associated with disrupted white-matter coherence of posterior right hemisphere regions, which may partly sustain the impaired cognitive regulation of anxiety. Future diffusion imaging investigations are expected to better elucidate the communication between the parietal cortex and other right hemisphere regions in sustaining the cognitive processing of social and emotional stimuli in patients with GAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Brambilla
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - G Como
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - M Isola
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - F Taboga
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - R Zuliani
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - S Goljevscek
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - M Ragogna
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - G Brondani
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - M Baiano
- Centre for Weight and Eating Disorders, Portogruaro, Venice, Italy
| | - L Perini
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - A Ferro
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Bazzocchi
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - C Zuiani
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - M Balestrieri
- Department of Experimental Clinical Medical Sciences, Inter-University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Whalley HC, Pickard BS, McIntosh AM, Zuliani R, Johnstone EC, Blackwood DHR, Lawrie SM, Muir WJ, Hall J. A GRIK4 variant conferring protection against bipolar disorder modulates hippocampal function. Mol Psychiatry 2009; 14:467-8. [PMID: 19384319 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2009.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Whalley HC, Pickard BS, McIntosh AM, Zuliani R, Johnstone EC, Blackwood DHR, Lawrie SM, Muir WJ, Hall J. Modulation of hippocampal activation by genetic variation in the GRIK4 gene. Mol Psychiatry 2009; 14:465. [PMID: 19384317 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2009.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H C Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Zita NY, Zuliani R, Razzini E, Tanucci G. [The role of personal distance in the development of human behavior]. Minerva Psichiatr 1987; 28:5-8. [PMID: 3626812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Brandao V, Zuliani R, Gaita D, Zita NY. [Fantasy and inertia. A group experience with psychotic patients at a halfway facility]. Minerva Psichiatr 1986; 27:269-72. [PMID: 3807751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Abstract
Psychiatric disorders in a sample of spouses of probands with recurrent Primary Affective Disorders (PAD) and in their first degree relatives were evaluated and compared with those in the spouse of control subjects without psychiatric illnesses. No differences were found in the risk for PAD, but spouses of PAD patients and their respective first degree relatives manifested a greater incidence of affective spectrum disorders.
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Abstract
Seventy-two spouses of subjects with recurrent primary affective disorders (PAD), were investigated for the presence of psychiatric disorders in their lives and in those of their first degree relatives, and compared with 71 spouses of non-psychiatrically ill control subjects. No difference was found in the risk for PAD; on the other hand spouses of affective patients manifested a greater occurrence of psychiatric disorders belonging to the affective spectrum, as did their respective first-degree relatives.
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