The Neuroanatomy of Somatoform Disorders: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
Psychosomatics
; 60(3): 278-288, 2019.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30119840
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Somatoform disorders (SDs) are a heterogeneous group of psychiatric syndromes characterized by common symptoms, which may mimic a physical condition but they are not explained by a medical condition. Although the biologic nature of this disorder has been widely accepted, the neuroanatomical correlates characterizing SDs are still inconclusive.OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to explore gray matter (GM) volume alterations in SD patients compared to healthy controls and their possible association with clinical and cognitive measures.METHOD:
We used voxel-based morphometry to examine regional GM volumes in 20 inpatients with SDs and 24-matched healthy controls. Only for SD patients, we employed multiple instruments to assess psychopathology and cognitive functioning, which were then used to explore their association with GM volume deficits.RESULTS:
Compared to healthy controls, SD patients showed GM volume reductions in the hypothalamus, left fusiform gyrus, right cuneus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left posterior cingulate, and right amygdala (p < 0.05, cluster Family Wise Error corrected). Additionally, in SD, Symptom Checklist-90-Phobia and Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale scores negatively correlated with specific fronto-temporoparietal regions whereas Symptom Checklist-90-Sleep scores positively correlated with anterior cingulate cortex. Lastly, the Boston Naming Test negatively correlated with fronto-temporoparietal and striatal volumes whereas Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test and Stroop scores positively correlated with superior temporal gyrus and cuneus, respectively (all p < 0.05, cluster Family Wise Error corrected).CONCLUSION:
Our results suggest that SDs might be characterized by selective impairments in specific cortico-limbic regions associated to two overlapping circuits, the neuromatrix of pain and the emotion regulation system.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transtornos Somatoformes
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Encéfalo
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article