Disrupted dynamic local brain functional connectivity patterns in generalized anxiety disorder

Qian Cui; Yuyan Chen; Qin Tang; Shaoqiang Han; Shan Hu; Yajing Pang; Fengmei Lu; Xiaoyu Nan; Wei Sheng; Qian Shen; Yifeng Wang; Zongling He; Huafu Chen

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109833

Disrupted dynamic local brain functional connectivity patterns in generalized anxiety disorder

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Apr 20:99:109833. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109833. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

Authors

Qian Cui¹, Yuyan Chen², Qin Tang², Shaoqiang Han², Shan Hu³, Yajing Pang², Fengmei Lu², Xiaoyu Nan³, Wei Sheng², Qian Shen⁴, Yifeng Wang², Zongling He², Huafu Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: qiancui26@gmail.com.
² The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
³ School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Education Center for Students Cultural Qualities, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
⁵ The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: chenhf@uestc.edu.cn.

PMID: 31812780
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109833

Abstract

Previous studies have reported abnormalities in static brain activity and connectivity in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, the dynamic patterns of brain connectivity in patients with GAD have not been fully explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic local brain functional connectivity in patients with GAD using dynamic regional phase synchrony (DRePS), a newly developed method for assessing intrinsic dynamic local functional connectivity. Seventy-four patients with GAD and 74 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to the HCs, patients with GAD exhibited decreased DRePS values in the bilateral caudate, left hippocampus, left anterior insula, left inferior frontal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus extending to inferior temporal gyrus. The DRePS value of the left hippocampus was negatively correlated with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores. Moreover, these abnormal DRePS patterns could be used to distinguish patients with GAD from HCs in an independent sample (18 patients with GAD and 21 HCs). Our findings provide further evidence on brain dysfunction in GAD from the perspective of the dynamic behaviour of local connections, suggesting that patients with GAD may have an insufficient brain adaptation. This study provides new insights into the neurocognitive mechanism of GAD and could potentially inform the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Future studies on GAD could benefit from combining the DRePS method with task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation.

Keywords: Dynamic regional phase synchrony; Generalized anxiety disorder; Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
Anxiety Disorders / psychology*
Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain / physiopathology
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Net / diagnostic imaging*
Nerve Net / physiopathology
Patient Health Questionnaire
Young Adult