Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112074
Christel Botha , Andrea Loftus , Peta Green , Rebecca Anderson
Background
Case studies examining the benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhanced exposure response prevention (ERP) reveal clinically significant improvements in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the absence of control conditions, the validity of these findings requires further study. Efforts are also needed to enhance the longevity of any gains.
Methods
This paper presents the protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) that will, (1) examine the efficacy and longevity of a dual protocol approach combining tDCS and ERP for the treatment of OCD, and (2) pilot a personalised feedback-informed booster treatment protocol for the long-term maintenance of OCD gains. A double-blind between-subjects design is proposed to evaluate pre to post intervention gains in both conditions across an initial 10 session (4 weeks) treatment protocol and 6-month post intervention maintenance phase. tDCS will involve 20 minutes of 2 mA stimulation targeting the orbitofrontal cortex (cathode) and Pre-supplementary Motor Area (anode) as per the frontostriatal model of OCD. The primary outcome of this study is changes in OCD symptom severity (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; YBOCS). Secondary outcomes include changes in depression, anxiety, quality of life, neurocognitive function (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), and treatment acceptability.
Conclusion
The findings of this study will inform treatment approaches by demonstrating the efficacy of tDCS enhanced ERP for the treatment of OCD, and whether any treatment gains can be maintained with feedback-informed booster treatment sessions.
{"title":"Protocol for a randomised controlled pilot trial for transcranial direct current stimulation enhanced exposure and response prevention with feedback informed post-intervention maintenance of gains for obsessive compulsive disorder","authors":"Christel Botha , Andrea Loftus , Peta Green , Rebecca Anderson","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Case studies examining the benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhanced exposure response prevention (ERP) reveal clinically significant improvements in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the absence of control conditions, the validity of these findings requires further study. Efforts are also needed to enhance the longevity of any gains.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This paper presents the protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) that will, (1) examine the efficacy and longevity of a dual protocol approach combining tDCS and ERP for the treatment of OCD, and (2) pilot a personalised feedback-informed booster treatment protocol for the long-term maintenance of OCD gains. A double-blind between-subjects design is proposed to evaluate pre to post intervention gains in both conditions across an initial 10 session (4 weeks) treatment protocol and 6-month post intervention maintenance phase. tDCS will involve 20 minutes of 2 mA stimulation targeting the orbitofrontal cortex (cathode) and Pre-supplementary Motor Area (anode) as per the frontostriatal model of OCD. The primary outcome of this study is changes in OCD symptom severity (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; YBOCS). Secondary outcomes include changes in depression, anxiety, quality of life, neurocognitive function (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), and treatment acceptability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings of this study will inform treatment approaches by demonstrating the efficacy of tDCS enhanced ERP for the treatment of OCD, and whether any treatment gains can be maintained with feedback-informed booster treatment sessions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"354 ","pages":"Article 112074"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145236389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112075
Elizabeth A. Hodgdon , Carlie A. Sivils , Jane Ellen Smith , David C. Witherington , Kristina T.R. Ciesielski
Excoriation disorder (ExD), or skin picking disorder, is a chronic body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that leads to severe tissue damage, disfigurement, and psychological distress. Despite its prevalence, the neurobiological etiology of ExD remains poorly understood, hindering early diagnosis and intervention. This systematic review synthesizes findings from neuroimaging studies reporting on neural correlates of ExD. A comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science identified 18 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Across 784 ExD participants and 530 controls, consistent patterns emerged in brain regions related to sensorimotor inhibition, habit formation, and perceptual-affective interaction. Structural MRI showed smaller volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and cerebellum, but increased size of nucleus accumbens, associated in previous studies with deficient inhibitory control. Task-related fMRI showed increased activation in frontal and parietal regions but diminished engagement of posterior cerebellar-prefrontal circuits during sensorimotor coordination, and amplified insula and amygdala responses to aversive stimuli. Resting-state fMRI linked ExD symptom severity with reduced supplementary motor and prefrontal connectivity. The findings consistently point to deviation in networks subserving sensorimotor-emotional integration, one of the earliest stages of brain-behavior development. A hypothesis of ExD as a developmental disorder is suggested, guiding future research to early markers of detection and prevention.
揭皮障碍（ExD），又称抠皮障碍，是一种慢性的以身体为中心的重复性行为（BFRB），会导致严重的组织损伤、毁容和心理困扰。尽管ExD很流行，但其神经生物学病因仍然知之甚少，阻碍了早期诊断和干预。本系统综述综合了ExD神经相关的神经影像学研究结果。对PubMed、PsycINFO和Web of Science进行全面搜索，确定了18项符合纳入标准的研究。在784名ExD参与者和530名对照组中，与感觉运动抑制、习惯形成和感知情感互动相关的大脑区域出现了一致的模式。结构MRI显示眶额皮质、脑岛和小脑体积较小，但伏隔核体积增大，在先前的研究中与抑制控制不足有关。任务相关的功能磁共振成像显示，在感觉运动协调过程中，额叶和顶叶区域的激活增加，但小脑后部-前额叶回路的参与减少，并且对厌恶刺激的岛和杏仁核反应增强。静息状态fMRI将ExD症状严重程度与辅助运动和前额叶连通性降低联系起来。研究结果一致指出，服务于感觉-运动-情绪整合的网络存在偏差，而感觉-运动-情绪整合是大脑行为发展的最早阶段之一。提出了ExD是一种发育障碍的假设，指导未来研究早期发现和预防的标志物。
{"title":"Neural markers in excoriation disorder: Systematic review of neuroimaging evidence","authors":"Elizabeth A. Hodgdon , Carlie A. Sivils , Jane Ellen Smith , David C. Witherington , Kristina T.R. Ciesielski","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excoriation disorder (ExD), or skin picking disorder, is a chronic body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that leads to severe tissue damage, disfigurement, and psychological distress. Despite its prevalence, the neurobiological etiology of ExD remains poorly understood, hindering early diagnosis and intervention. This systematic review synthesizes findings from neuroimaging studies reporting on neural correlates of ExD. A comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science identified 18 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Across 784 ExD participants and 530 controls, consistent patterns emerged in brain regions related to sensorimotor inhibition, habit formation, and perceptual-affective interaction. Structural MRI showed smaller volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and cerebellum, but increased size of nucleus accumbens, associated in previous studies with deficient inhibitory control. Task-related fMRI showed increased activation in frontal and parietal regions but diminished engagement of posterior cerebellar-prefrontal circuits during sensorimotor coordination, and amplified insula and amygdala responses to aversive stimuli. Resting-state fMRI linked ExD symptom severity with reduced supplementary motor and prefrontal connectivity. The findings consistently point to deviation in networks subserving sensorimotor-emotional integration, one of the earliest stages of brain-behavior development. A hypothesis of ExD as a developmental disorder is suggested, guiding future research to early markers of detection and prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"354 ","pages":"Article 112075"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112065
J. Michael Maurer , Corey H. Allen , Samantha N. Rodriguez , Keith A. Harenski , David D. Stephenson , Bethany G. Edwards , Nathaniel E. Anderson , Carla L. Harenski , Vince D. Calhoun , Kent A. Kiehl
Initially designed to assess executive control deficits for individuals meeting criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) is now frequently used to assess such deficits more broadly. However, no existing studies have investigated whether individuals scoring high on the BADDS are characterized by impairments within higher-order brain regions associated with executive control. Here, we investigated this association among incarcerated adolescents (205 boys and 35 girls). We incorporated the use of source-based morphometry (SBM), a data-driven, multivariate approach to identify large-scale structural brain networks. In separate analyses performed with incarcerated boys and girls, we observed that higher BADDS total scores were related to reduced loading coefficients in SBM components comprised of brain regions associated with executive control (e.g., superior/middle frontal gyrus, superior/inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal gyrus). These structural impairments suggest participants scoring high on the BADDS are characterized by executive control deficits, including domains such as self-regulation, working memory, and sustained attention. Our results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that the BADDS serves as a reliable measure of executive control deficits. Further, our results support the use of the BADDS in samples beyond individuals strictly meeting criteria for ADHD.
{"title":"Incarcerated adolescents scoring high on the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale are characterized by impairments within brain regions associated with executive control: A source-based morphometry study","authors":"J. Michael Maurer , Corey H. Allen , Samantha N. Rodriguez , Keith A. Harenski , David D. Stephenson , Bethany G. Edwards , Nathaniel E. Anderson , Carla L. Harenski , Vince D. Calhoun , Kent A. Kiehl","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Initially designed to assess executive control deficits for individuals meeting criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) is now frequently used to assess such deficits more broadly. However, no existing studies have investigated whether individuals scoring high on the BADDS are characterized by impairments within higher-order brain regions associated with executive control. Here, we investigated this association among incarcerated adolescents (205 boys and 35 girls). We incorporated the use of source-based morphometry (SBM), a data-driven, multivariate approach to identify large-scale structural brain networks. In separate analyses performed with incarcerated boys and girls, we observed that higher BADDS total scores were related to reduced loading coefficients in SBM components comprised of brain regions associated with executive control (e.g., superior/middle frontal gyrus, superior/inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal gyrus). These structural impairments suggest participants scoring high on the BADDS are characterized by executive control deficits, including domains such as self-regulation, working memory, and sustained attention. Our results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that the BADDS serves as a reliable measure of executive control deficits. Further, our results support the use of the BADDS in samples beyond individuals strictly meeting criteria for ADHD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112065"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145150607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112063
Nishu Chowdhury , Utpol Kanti Das , Sadia Sazzad , Amit Chowdhury , Panna Das
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that presents diagnostic challenges, particularly in its early stages. This study proposes a multimodal approach to PD classification that integrates neurological imaging, motor symptom analysis, and non-motor clinical features. Dopamine depletion, a core biomarker of PD, is assessed using PET imaging, where active brain regions are quantified through color segmentation and image processing. A reduction in the active area correlates with disease progression. Tremor detection is performed using the Hough Transform algorithm applied to line-drawing tests, effectively identifying motor irregularities. Non-motor features are analyzed using a publicly available dataset, and the XGBoost algorithm achieves a classification accuracy exceeding 95.42%. The combined approach demonstrates high potential for early, accurate, and interpretable PD diagnosis.
{"title":"Multimodal approach for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease using PET imaging, tremor detection, and machine learning","authors":"Nishu Chowdhury , Utpol Kanti Das , Sadia Sazzad , Amit Chowdhury , Panna Das","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that presents diagnostic challenges, particularly in its early stages. This study proposes a multimodal approach to PD classification that integrates neurological imaging, motor symptom analysis, and non-motor clinical features. Dopamine depletion, a core biomarker of PD, is assessed using PET imaging, where active brain regions are quantified through color segmentation and image processing. A reduction in the active area correlates with disease progression. Tremor detection is performed using the Hough Transform algorithm applied to line-drawing tests, effectively identifying motor irregularities. Non-motor features are analyzed using a publicly available dataset, and the XGBoost algorithm achieves a classification accuracy exceeding 95.42%. The combined approach demonstrates high potential for early, accurate, and interpretable PD diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112063"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145099863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Major depressive disorder (MDD) heterogeneity is frequently overlooked in current diagnostic approaches, despite evidence that certain subtypes, particularly MDD with psychotic symptoms (MDDwP), are associated with poorer prognoses. Eye movement assessment has demonstrated promise as a potential biomarker for psychiatric disorders; however, research into eye movement patterns in MDD with and without psychotic features is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the potential value of eye movement as a biomarker for MDD.
Methods
This study enrolled 69 participants, including 15 patients with major depressive episodes without psychotic symptoms (MDDwoP), 17 patients with MDDwP, and 37 healthy controls (HC). Eye-movement characteristics were collected using three paradigms: smooth tracking, dual-task tracking, and free viewing.
Results
No significant differences emerged among groups in smooth tracking (P> 0.05). In the dual-task tracking, the MDDwP group had a greater number of excursions (P= 0.008) and a greater total excursion (P= 0.023) than the HC group. In the free-viewing task, patients in both groups exhibited significantly higher saccade counts (P= 0.031 for both groups) and fixation counts (P= 0.013; P= 0.025) than the HC group.
Conclusion
Patients with MDDwP have specific eye movement abnormalities indicating impaired attention allocation and multitasking abilities. The alterations observed in both depressed groups likely reflect compensatory cognitive resource allocation. These distinctive patterns provide evidence supporting eye-tracking technology as a potential objective diagnostic biomarker for MDD subtypes.
{"title":"Abnormal eye movement patterns in adolescent and early adulthood MDD patients with and without psychotic symptoms: A multi-paradigm feature-based study","authors":"Xin-Cheng-Cheng Huang , Qiao-Yan Guan , Mei-Jun Jiang , Qian-Ting Yu, Wan-Qi Ou, Yue-Ya Wang, Zhen Xiao, Ji-Fan Zhang, Xing-Chang Liu, Cai-Lan Hou, Ming Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112064","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112064","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Major depressive disorder (MDD) heterogeneity is frequently overlooked in current diagnostic approaches, despite evidence that certain subtypes, particularly MDD with psychotic symptoms (MDDwP), are associated with poorer prognoses. Eye movement assessment has demonstrated promise as a potential biomarker for psychiatric disorders; however, research into eye movement patterns in MDD with and without psychotic features is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the potential value of eye movement as a biomarker for MDD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study enrolled 69 participants, including 15 patients with major depressive episodes without psychotic symptoms (MDDwoP), 17 patients with MDDwP, and 37 healthy controls (HC). Eye-movement characteristics were collected using three paradigms: smooth tracking, dual-task tracking, and free viewing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>No significant differences emerged among groups in smooth tracking (<em>P</em>> 0.05). In the dual-task tracking, the MDDwP group had a greater number of excursions (<em>P</em>= 0.008) and a greater total excursion (<em>P</em>= 0.023) than the HC group. In the free-viewing task, patients in both groups exhibited significantly higher saccade counts (<em>P</em>= 0.031 for both groups) and fixation counts (<em>P</em>= 0.013; <em>P</em>= 0.025) than the HC group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Patients with MDDwP have specific eye movement abnormalities indicating impaired attention allocation and multitasking abilities. The alterations observed in both depressed groups likely reflect compensatory cognitive resource allocation. These distinctive patterns provide evidence supporting eye-tracking technology as a potential objective diagnostic biomarker for MDD subtypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112064"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-26DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112040
Erkan Alkan, Veena Kumari, Simon L Evans
Background: Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder commonly associated with significant cognitive impairment, particularly in memory. Reduced gray matter volume in various brain regions, including hippocampus and its subfields, is also well-documented in individuals with schizophrenia (SZH). However, few studies have investigated how memory deficits relate to hippocampal subfield volume deficits.
Methods: In this study, we examined hippocampal subfield volumes and their associations with immediate and delayed memory performance (using the WMS-III battery), comparing 57 individuals with SZH to 32 well-matched controls.
Results: Compared to controls, SZH exhibited lower memory performance, and lower hippocampal volumes, particularly in the left hippocampus and the CA1 and parasubiculum subfields. Both Immediate and Delayed Free Recall memory performance positively correlated with left CA1 volume in SZH only, and not in controls. Positive associations were also observed between Thematic Recall scores and volumes in the left CA1, CA3, and CA4/DG subfields in SZH only, but only at an uncorrected threshold.
Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that hippocampal volumetric alteration contributes to memory impairment in SZH. In particular, findings highlight the importance of the left CA1 subfield, as we identified volumetric associations with memory performance that were unique to SZH. These mechanistic insights inform potential targeted intervention strategies to address memory impairment and promote functional recovery in SZH.
{"title":"Hippocampal subfield volumes and memory deficits in schizophrenia.","authors":"Erkan Alkan, Veena Kumari, Simon L Evans","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder commonly associated with significant cognitive impairment, particularly in memory. Reduced gray matter volume in various brain regions, including hippocampus and its subfields, is also well-documented in individuals with schizophrenia (SZH). However, few studies have investigated how memory deficits relate to hippocampal subfield volume deficits.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we examined hippocampal subfield volumes and their associations with immediate and delayed memory performance (using the WMS-III battery), comparing 57 individuals with SZH to 32 well-matched controls.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to controls, SZH exhibited lower memory performance, and lower hippocampal volumes, particularly in the left hippocampus and the CA1 and parasubiculum subfields. Both Immediate and Delayed Free Recall memory performance positively correlated with left CA1 volume in SZH only, and not in controls. Positive associations were also observed between Thematic Recall scores and volumes in the left CA1, CA3, and CA4/DG subfields in SZH only, but only at an uncorrected threshold.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings provide evidence that hippocampal volumetric alteration contributes to memory impairment in SZH. In particular, findings highlight the importance of the left CA1 subfield, as we identified volumetric associations with memory performance that were unique to SZH. These mechanistic insights inform potential targeted intervention strategies to address memory impairment and promote functional recovery in SZH.</p>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"352 ","pages":"112040"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144804637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Previous studies have reported a link between subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders. However, it is challenging to directly determine the associations between these phenotypes because of the limits of observational researches. This study aimed to assess the associations between childhood subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders through Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis.
Methods: The two-sample MR method was carried out to genetically analyse the causal associations between childhood subcortical volumes and various psychiatric disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), bipolar disorder (BD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and Tourette's syndrome (TS), using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) data. The inverse variance-weighted method was employed as the main analysis, and sensitivity analysis was also conducted.
Results: It was revealed that 3 subcortical volumes were positively associated with psychiatric disorders, while 6 subcortical volumes were negatively associated. The analysis revealed significant causal effects, indicating an increased risk of psychiatric disorders associated with genetic liability and specific brain structures. Notable associations included bilateral accumbens volume with BD (PFDR = 0.047), OCD (PFDR = 0.025) and PTSD (PFDR = 0.047); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with prenatal stress and OCD (PFDR = 0.023); and bilateral thalamus volume interacting with postnatal stress and PTSD (PFDR = 0.047). Conversely, the study identified risk-decreasing associations for subcortical volumes and several psychiatric disorders, such as bilateral accumbens volume interacting with postnatal stress and AN (PFDR = 0.047), TS (PFDR = 0.047); bilateral caudate volume interacting with postnatal stress and GAD (PFDR = 0.008); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with prenatal stress and BD (PFDR = 0.025), PTSD (PFDR = 0.047); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with postnatal stress and PTSD (PFDR = 0.047); bilateral thalamus volume interacting with postnatal stress and SCZ (PFDR = 0.031); and bilateral accumbens volume interacting with prenatal stress and TS (PFDR = 0.013).
Conclusion: The findings indicated the genetical associations between childhood subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders, varied predispositions of specific subcortical structures in different forms of psychosis. Replication in larger samples will be essential to acquire a better understanding of the interactions between subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders.
{"title":"Implications of childhood subcortical volumes on psychiatric disorders: A mendelian randomization study.","authors":"Qingqi Ran, Zhengdong Chen, Mi Yan, Yanfei Liu, Wanwei Li, Xinyu Duan, Xiaoya Wei, Xin Yang, Zhangxue Hu, Wenjie Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous studies have reported a link between subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders. However, it is challenging to directly determine the associations between these phenotypes because of the limits of observational researches. This study aimed to assess the associations between childhood subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders through Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The two-sample MR method was carried out to genetically analyse the causal associations between childhood subcortical volumes and various psychiatric disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), bipolar disorder (BD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and Tourette's syndrome (TS), using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) data. The inverse variance-weighted method was employed as the main analysis, and sensitivity analysis was also conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was revealed that 3 subcortical volumes were positively associated with psychiatric disorders, while 6 subcortical volumes were negatively associated. The analysis revealed significant causal effects, indicating an increased risk of psychiatric disorders associated with genetic liability and specific brain structures. Notable associations included bilateral accumbens volume with BD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047), OCD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.025) and PTSD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with prenatal stress and OCD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.023); and bilateral thalamus volume interacting with postnatal stress and PTSD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047). Conversely, the study identified risk-decreasing associations for subcortical volumes and several psychiatric disorders, such as bilateral accumbens volume interacting with postnatal stress and AN (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047), TS (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047); bilateral caudate volume interacting with postnatal stress and GAD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.008); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with prenatal stress and BD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.025), PTSD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047); bilateral pallidum volume interacting with postnatal stress and PTSD (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.047); bilateral thalamus volume interacting with postnatal stress and SCZ (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.031); and bilateral accumbens volume interacting with prenatal stress and TS (P<sub>FDR</sub> = 0.013).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings indicated the genetical associations between childhood subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders, varied predispositions of specific subcortical structures in different forms of psychosis. Replication in larger samples will be essential to acquire a better understanding of the interactions between subcortical volumes and psychiatric disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"352 ","pages":"112033"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112062
Zeinab Houjaije , Rasmus Schülke , Christopher Sinke , Nima Mahmoudi , Mike P. Wattjes , Tillmann H.C. Krüger , Alborz Bastami , Anastasia Gaspert , Lara Schütze , Selina Heim , Alexandra Neyazi , Stefan Bleich , Helge Frieling , Hannah Benedictine Maier
The neural correlates of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are not fully elucidated. Brainstem functional connectivity (FC) in TRD has rarely been investigated, despite the assumed role of several brainstem nuclei in depression.
23 patients and 23 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI. Seed-based connectivity (SBC) was calculated for 37 brainstem seeds with motor and arousal functions. Correlations between significant FC and somatic symptom severity were computed.
FC of dorsal raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus, cuneiform nucleus and periaqueductal gray to the precentral and postcentral gyrus was increased. The anterior division of the mesencephalic reticular formation showed increased FC to left frontal pole, left superior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, whereas its lateral division showed decreased FC to frontal orbital and insular cortex, compared to healthy subjects. FC of bilateral locus coeruleus to bilateral postcentral gyrus were positively correlated with depressive symptoms and the intensity of somatic symptoms.
We found increased FC between brainstem and sensorimotor and frontal cortical regions in TRD patients compared to healthy controls. Increased brainstem-cortical FC appeared to be linked with depressive and somatic symptom severity.
{"title":"Increased functional connectivity between motor and arousal brainstem nuclei and sensorimotor cortex in therapy resistant depression","authors":"Zeinab Houjaije , Rasmus Schülke , Christopher Sinke , Nima Mahmoudi , Mike P. Wattjes , Tillmann H.C. Krüger , Alborz Bastami , Anastasia Gaspert , Lara Schütze , Selina Heim , Alexandra Neyazi , Stefan Bleich , Helge Frieling , Hannah Benedictine Maier","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The neural correlates of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are not fully elucidated. Brainstem functional connectivity (FC) in TRD has rarely been investigated, despite the assumed role of several brainstem nuclei in depression.</div><div>23 patients and 23 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI. Seed-based connectivity (SBC) was calculated for 37 brainstem seeds with motor and arousal functions. Correlations between significant FC and somatic symptom severity were computed.</div><div>FC of dorsal raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus, cuneiform nucleus and periaqueductal gray to the precentral and postcentral gyrus was increased. The anterior division of the mesencephalic reticular formation showed increased FC to left frontal pole, left superior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, whereas its lateral division showed decreased FC to frontal orbital and insular cortex, compared to healthy subjects. FC of bilateral locus coeruleus to bilateral postcentral gyrus were positively correlated with depressive symptoms and the intensity of somatic symptoms.</div><div>We found increased FC between brainstem and sensorimotor and frontal cortical regions in TRD patients compared to healthy controls. Increased brainstem-cortical FC appeared to be linked with depressive and somatic symptom severity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112062"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112061
Michel Vezarov , Carley Fall , Jessie Moorman , Zhuo Fang , Elisa Romano , Andra Smith
Background
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can cause lasting neurodevelopmental changes, posing significant challenges for survivors. Its specific impact on men remains heavily stigmatized and under-researched. This study examined neurophysiological correlates of CSA in men using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Methods
A community-based sample of men with CSA histories (n = 15) and controls (n = 13) were recruited from urban centers across Canada. All participants underwent DTI, which measures white matter integrity through fractional anisotropy (FA) values. Group comparisons were conducted using whole-brain voxel-wise and post-hoc region-of-interest (ROI) analyses with Bonferroni correction. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and power were reported.
Results
Compared to controls, the CSA group showed significantly lower FA values in the right posterior cingulum (d = 1.28, p = 0.002), superior frontal gyrus (d = 1.13, p = 0.006), anterior thalamic radiation (d = 1.19, p = 0.004), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (d = 1.90, p < 0.001). These differences remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment. Lower FA values were also observed in the left anterior cingulum and right forceps minor, though these did not meet adjusted significance thresholds.
Conclusions
This study provides empirical evidence of the long-lasting neurophysiological impact of CSA in men. The observed white matter differences may underlie the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties often experienced by this population. These results are discussed in the context of destigmatizing male CSA and helping clinicians better understand the neurophysiological factors affecting their patients.
儿童性虐待（CSA）会导致持久的神经发育变化，对幸存者构成重大挑战。它对男性的具体影响仍被严重污名化，研究不足。本研究使用弥散张量成像（DTI）检查了男性CSA的神经生理学相关性。方法以社区为基础，从加拿大各城市中心招募有CSA病史的男性样本（n = 15）和对照组（n = 13）。所有参与者都进行了DTI，通过分数各向异性（FA）值测量白质完整性。采用Bonferroni校正的全脑体素和事后感兴趣区域（ROI）分析进行组间比较。报告了效应量（Cohen’s d）和功率。结果与对照组相比，CSA组右侧后扣带（d = 1.28, p = 0.002）、额上回（d = 1.13, p = 0.006）、丘脑前辐射（d = 1.19, p = 0.004）和上纵束（d = 1.90, p < 0.001） FA值显著降低。这些差异在Bonferroni调整后仍然显著。在左侧前扣带和右侧小钳中也观察到较低的FA值，尽管这些值未达到调整后的显著阈值。结论本研究为CSA对男性神经生理的长期影响提供了经验证据。观察到的白质差异可能是这一人群经常经历的行为、情感和认知困难的基础。这些结果将在消除男性CSA污名的背景下进行讨论，并帮助临床医生更好地了解影响患者的神经生理因素。
{"title":"Neurophysiological impact of childhood sexual abuse in men: A diffusion tensor imaging study","authors":"Michel Vezarov , Carley Fall , Jessie Moorman , Zhuo Fang , Elisa Romano , Andra Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can cause lasting neurodevelopmental changes, posing significant challenges for survivors. Its specific impact on men remains heavily stigmatized and under-researched. This study examined neurophysiological correlates of CSA in men using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A community-based sample of men with CSA histories (<em>n</em> = 15) and controls (<em>n</em> = 13) were recruited from urban centers across Canada. All participants underwent DTI, which measures white matter integrity through fractional anisotropy (FA) values. Group comparisons were conducted using whole-brain voxel-wise and post-hoc region-of-interest (ROI) analyses with Bonferroni correction. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and power were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to controls, the CSA group showed significantly lower FA values in the right posterior cingulum (<em>d</em> = 1.28, <em>p</em> = 0.002), superior frontal gyrus (<em>d</em> = 1.13, <em>p</em> = 0.006), anterior thalamic radiation (<em>d</em> = 1.19, <em>p</em> = 0.004), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (<em>d</em> = 1.90, <em>p</em> < 0.001). These differences remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment. Lower FA values were also observed in the left anterior cingulum and right forceps minor, though these did not meet adjusted significance thresholds.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study provides empirical evidence of the long-lasting neurophysiological impact of CSA in men. The observed white matter differences may underlie the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties often experienced by this population. These results are discussed in the context of destigmatizing male CSA and helping clinicians better understand the neurophysiological factors affecting their patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112061"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145007773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112060
Xinmeng Weng, Minghuan Xu, Zhanxiong Wu
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is irreversible. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the first symptomatic stage of AD. Distinguishing MCI patients from healthy controls (HCs) through appropriate techniques is critical for early therapeutic interventions and prolonging patients’ health. In this study, we explored characteristic indicators for MCI through dimension reduction of brain networks. After the brains (100 HCs and 100 MCIs from ADNI dataset) were partitioned into 360 parcels, one-dimension time series was extracted from diffusion and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data using network dimension-reduction techniques. Power-spectrum was then employed to transform the time series into frequency domain, to find characteristic indicators for MCI. Statistical tests indicate that the indicators (mean square frequency, and center frequency) estimated with brain network reductions could differentiate MCIs from HCs more significantly, compared with those of BOLD time series of specific AD-related subregions (hippocampus, and parieto-temporal subregions). Power-spectrum of one-dimension time series extracted with network reductions might be a viable method for distinguishing MCI progression stages. This approach could potentially facilitate earlier and more precise differentiation between MCIs and HCs, showing future clinical applicability.
{"title":"Characteristic indicators for mild-cognitive-impairment obtained from dimension reduction of brain networks","authors":"Xinmeng Weng, Minghuan Xu, Zhanxiong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is irreversible. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the first symptomatic stage of AD. Distinguishing MCI patients from healthy controls (HCs) through appropriate techniques is critical for early therapeutic interventions and prolonging patients’ health. In this study, we explored characteristic indicators for MCI through dimension reduction of brain networks. After the brains (100 HCs and 100 MCIs from ADNI dataset) were partitioned into 360 parcels, one-dimension time series was extracted from diffusion and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data using network dimension-reduction techniques. Power-spectrum was then employed to transform the time series into frequency domain, to find characteristic indicators for MCI. Statistical tests indicate that the indicators (mean square frequency, and center frequency) estimated with brain network reductions could differentiate MCIs from HCs more significantly, compared with those of BOLD time series of specific AD-related subregions (hippocampus, and parieto-temporal subregions). Power-spectrum of one-dimension time series extracted with network reductions might be a viable method for distinguishing MCI progression stages. This approach could potentially facilitate earlier and more precise differentiation between MCIs and HCs, showing future clinical applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20776,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 112060"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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