Whole-brain volume alteration and its correlation with anxiety severity in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential gray matter (GM) and white matter volume alterations between healthy controls and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).

METHOD: Patients with OCD and GAD, and healthy controls underwent MR.

RESULTS

Patients with GAD showed significantly decreased GM volume in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared with patients with OCD (p < 0.001). The GM volumes of the mPFC in patients with GAD were negatively correlated with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scales.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the mPFC volume abnormality may be associated with anxiety disorder in patients with GAD rather than OCD.