Structural and functional brain imaging after treatment with selective-serotonin reuptake-inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A mini review.
Magnetic resonance imaging
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Treatment response
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 01 2024
15 01 2024
Historique:
received:
25
05
2023
revised:
02
10
2023
accepted:
08
10
2023
medline:
23
11
2023
pubmed:
12
10
2023
entrez:
11
10
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder whose etiopathogenesis, according to various neuroimaging studies, seems to be linked to selective dysfunctions in regions within the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line therapy for OCD but their neurobiological effects on the brain is only partially understood. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight structural and functional brain imaging modifications induced by SSRIs treatment. A literature search on PubMed, Psych-Info and Embase database was performed. Studies including patients with OCD that analyzed the effect of SSRIs through structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging were selected. Seven relevant studies were considered eligible for the present review. Overall, the results of the reviewed studies showed that SSRIs treatment seems to normalize structural, in terms of the white matter and gray matter volumes, and functional activity alterations observed in OCD patients, especially in regions within the prefrontal cortex and striatum. The poor design of the studies, the small and heterogeneous samples, differences in age, gender, illness course, comorbidities, treatment protocols and the different magnetic fields used make it difficult to generalize the results. From the available evidence it emerged that SSRIs treatment has proven to be effective in normalizing brain structural and functional alterations observed in OCD patients. However, future neuroimaging investigations should focus on long-term effects of drugs on brain structure and function in OCD patients through longitudinal approaches in order to identify more effective treatments for these patients.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder whose etiopathogenesis, according to various neuroimaging studies, seems to be linked to selective dysfunctions in regions within the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line therapy for OCD but their neurobiological effects on the brain is only partially understood. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight structural and functional brain imaging modifications induced by SSRIs treatment.
METHODS
A literature search on PubMed, Psych-Info and Embase database was performed. Studies including patients with OCD that analyzed the effect of SSRIs through structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging were selected. Seven relevant studies were considered eligible for the present review.
RESULTS
Overall, the results of the reviewed studies showed that SSRIs treatment seems to normalize structural, in terms of the white matter and gray matter volumes, and functional activity alterations observed in OCD patients, especially in regions within the prefrontal cortex and striatum.
LIMITATIONS
The poor design of the studies, the small and heterogeneous samples, differences in age, gender, illness course, comorbidities, treatment protocols and the different magnetic fields used make it difficult to generalize the results.
CONCLUSIONS
From the available evidence it emerged that SSRIs treatment has proven to be effective in normalizing brain structural and functional alterations observed in OCD patients. However, future neuroimaging investigations should focus on long-term effects of drugs on brain structure and function in OCD patients through longitudinal approaches in order to identify more effective treatments for these patients.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37820957
pii: S0165-0327(23)01221-1
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.034
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
0
Serotonin
333DO1RDJY
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
141-148Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest None.