Excessive Checking in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Neurochemical Correlates Revealed by 7T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Biria, Marjan and Banca, Paula and Keser, Engin and Healy, Mairead P. and Sawiak, Stephen J. and de Souza, Ana Maria Frota Lisboa Pereira and Aleya, A Marzuki * and Sule, Akeem and Robbins, Trevor W. (2024) Excessive Checking in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Neurochemical Correlates Revealed by 7T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 4 (1). pp. 363-373. ISSN 2667-1743

Full text not available from this repository.
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.08.009

Abstract

Background Compulsive checking, a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), has been difficult to capture experimentally. Therefore, determination of its neural basis remains challenging despite some evidence suggesting that it is linked to dysfunction of cingulostriatal systems. This study introduces a novel experimental paradigm to measure excessive checking and its neurochemical correlates. Methods Thirty-one patients with OCD and 29 healthy volunteers performed a decision-making task requiring them to decide whether 2 perceptually similar visual representations were the same or different under a high-uncertainty condition without feedback. Both groups underwent 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans on the same day. Correlations between out-of-scanner experimental measures of checking and the glutamate/GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) ratio in the anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area, and occipital cortex were assessed. Their relationship with subjective ratings of doubt, anxiety, and confidence was also investigated. Results Patients with OCD exhibited excessive and dysfunctional checking, which was significantly correlated with changes in the glutamate/GABA ratio within the anterior cingulate cortex. No behavioral/neurochemical relationships were evident for either the supplementary motor area or occipital cortex. The excessive checking observed in patients was negatively correlated with their confidence levels and positively related to doubt, anxiety, and compulsivity traits. Conclusions We conclude that experimental measures of excessive and dysfunctional checking in OCD, which have been linked to increased doubt, anxiety, and lack of confidence, are related to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neural activity within the anterior cingulate cortex. This study adds to our understanding of the role of this region in OCD by providing a laboratory model of the possible development of compulsive checking.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 7T-MRS; anterior cingulate cortex; checking; GABA; glutamate; OCD
Subjects: Q Science > QP Physiology
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions: Others > Non Sunway Academics
Sunway University > School of Medical and Life Sciences [formerly School of Healthcare and Medical Sciences until 2020] > Dept. Psychology
Depositing User: Ms Yong Yee Chan
Date Deposited: 12 Jul 2024 00:18
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2024 00:18
URI: http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/id/eprint/2786

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item