s41398-021-01622-1.pdf (2.88 MB)
Cortical and subcortical brain structure in generalized anxiety disorder: findings from 28 research sites in the enigma-anxiety working group
Version 2 2023-06-12, 08:08
Version 1 2023-06-10, 01:25
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 08:08 authored by Anita Harrewijn, Elise M Cardinale, Nynke A Groenewold, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam, Moji Aghajani, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Daniel Porta-Casteràs, Savannah Gosnell, Ramiro Salas, Andrea P Jackowski, Pedro M Pan, Hugo CritchleyHugo Critchley, Matteo Mancini, Frances Meeten, othersThe goal of this study was to compare brain structure between individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and healthy controls. Previous studies have generated inconsistent findings, possibly due to small sample sizes, or clinical/analytic heterogeneity. To address these concerns, we combined data from 28 research sites worldwide through the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group, using a single, pre-registered mega-analysis. Structural magnetic resonance imaging data from children and adults (5–90 years) were processed using FreeSurfer. The main analysis included the regional and vertex-wise cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and subcortical volume as dependent variables, and GAD, age, age-squared, sex, and their interactions as independent variables. Nuisance variables included IQ, years of education, medication use, comorbidities, and global brain measures. The main analysis (1020 individuals with GAD and 2999 healthy controls) included random slopes per site and random intercepts per scanner. A secondary analysis (1112 individuals with GAD and 3282 healthy controls) included fixed slopes and random intercepts per scanner with the same variables. The main analysis showed no effect of GAD on brain structure, nor interactions involving GAD, age, or sex. The secondary analysis showed increased volume in the right ventral diencephalon in male individuals with GAD compared to male healthy controls, whereas female individuals with GAD did not differ from female healthy controls. This mega-analysis combining worldwide data showed that differences in brain structure related to GAD are small, possibly reflecting heterogeneity or those structural alterations are not a major component of its pathophysiology.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Translational PsychiatryISSN
2158-3188Publisher
Springer NatureExternal DOI
Volume
11Page range
1-15Article number
a502Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-10-15First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-10-15First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-10-14Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC