Localized functional neurochemical marker abnormalities in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Neurobiological abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although OCD commonly arises during childhood and adolescence, to our knowledge, no prior study has examined prefrontal cortex neurochemistry in pediatric patients with OCD.


METHODS
A multislice spectroscopic imaging sequence with validated phantom replacement methodology was used to measure N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), a putative neuronal marker; choline compounds (Cho); and creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr) in right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 15 treatment-naïve OCD patients, 8-15 years of age, and 15 case-matched healthy comparison subjects.


RESULTS
A significant increase (21% higher) in NAA was observed in left but not right DLPFC in OCD patients versus control subjects. No significant differences in Cho or Cr were observed between groups in left or right DLPFC.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide new evidence of localized functional neurochemical marker alterations in left DLPFC in pediatric OCD. Increased left DLPFC NAA may represent neuronal hypertrophy or hyperplasia, glial hypoplasia, and/or abnormal pruning of neural brain elements in DLPFC.
Russell
Aileen
A
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Cortese
Bernadette
B
Lorch
Elisa
E
Ivey
Jennifer
J
Banerjee
S Preeya
SP
Moore
Gregory J
GJ
Rosenberg
David R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline