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Microstructural White Matter Alterations Associated With Social Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review Publisher Pubmed



Parsaei M1 ; Hasehmi SM2 ; Seyedmirzaei H2, 3 ; Cattarinussi G4 ; Sambataro F4 ; Brambilla P6, 7 ; Delvecchio G7
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Research Center, Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Program Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
  5. 5. Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
  6. 6. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  7. 7. Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders Published:2024


Abstract

Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by impaired social functioning that negatively impacts individuals' quality of life. Previous neuroimaging studies have revealed morphological and functional changes in various brain regions associated with SAD. Recent advances in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have enabled the investigation of microstructural white matter (WM) alterations in SAD. This study aims to provide an overview of DTI/DWI studies exploring WM microstructure changes in SAD. Methods: A systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO was conducted for relevant records on July 8, 2023. An exploratory meta-analysis was also performed. Results: Eight studies were reviewed. Consistent findings indicated reduced fractional anisotropy and increased diffusivity measures in different WM tracts in SAD patients compared to healthy controls. These alterations were mostly observed within regions of the fronto-limbic network, like uncinate fasciculus (UF) and superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi (SLF and ILF). Finally, our exploratory meta-analysis on four studies utilizing a voxel-wise analytic approach yielded no significant differences between SAD patients and controls. Limitations: Limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and heterogeneity in analysis methods. Conclusions: Patients with SAD exhibited altered WM integrity, particularly in the UF, SLF, and ILF, compared to healthy controls. However, due to the limited number of included studies, our meta-analysis yielded no significant differences between SAD patients and controls. Therefore, future research is crucial to unravel the link between altered WM structure and the involvement of other limbic and cortical structures in SAD pathogenesis. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.
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