Reduced structural connectivity of a major frontolimbic pathway in generalized anxiety disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Emotion regulation deficits figure prominently in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and in other anxiety and mood disorders. Research examining emotion regulation and top-down modulation has implicated reduced coupling of the amygdala with prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, suggesting altered frontolimbic white matter connectivity in GAD.

Objectives

To investigate structural connectivity between ventral prefrontal cortex or anterior cingulate cortex areas and the amygdala in GAD and to assess associations with functional connectivity between those areas.

Design

Participants underwent diffusion-tensor imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Setting

University magnetic resonance imaging facility.

Participants

Forty-nine pa

SUBMITTER: Tromp DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3566704 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature