Abstract
Background
Neurobiologic abnormalities in medial thalamus have been implicated in the pathogenesis
of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We previously used multislice proton magnetic
resonance spectroscopic imaging (1-H MRSI) to identify localized functional neurochemical
marker alterations in choline (Cho) in medial but not lateral thalamus in treatment-naïve
pediatric patients with OCD compared with matched control subjects. Altered brain
Cho levels have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders.
Methods
We used 1-H MRSI to study absolute Cho concentrations in 18 psychotropic-naïve pediatric
patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) not suffering from OCD, 9–17 years of
age, 18 case-matched healthy control subjects, and 27 nondepressed, psychotropic-naïve
pediatric patients with OCD, 7–16 years of age.
Results
Significantly increased left and right medial thalamic Cho concentrations were observed
in OCD patients compared with both healthy control subjects and patients with MDD.
Medial thalamic Cho concentrations did not differ significantly between patients with
MDD and control subjects.
Conclusions
These results suggest that localized functional neurochemical marker alterations in
medial thalamic Cho differentiate patients with OCD from healthy control subjects
and patients with MDD. Although these results must be considered preliminary, further
study of the diagnostic specificity of Cho as a relevant biomarker in OCD is clearly
warranted.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 23,
2003
Received in revised form:
April 21,
2003
Received:
February 24,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
