title: fMRI predictors of treatment outcome in pediatric anxiety disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A growing number of studies have found evidence that anxiety and depressive disorders are associated with atypical amygdala hyperactivation, which decreases with effective treatment. Interest has emerged in this phenomenon as a possible biological marker for individuals who are likely to benefit from tailored treatment approaches.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to examine relationships between pretreatment amygdala activity and treatment response in a sample of anxious children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants, who were diagnosed predominantly with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning before treatment with fluoxetine or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated significant negative associations between degree of left amygdala activation and measures of posttreatment symptom improvement in the group, as a whole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together with research on associations between adult amygdala activation and treatment response, these findings suggest that patients whose pretreatment amygdala activity is the strongest may be particularly likely to respond well to such widely used treatments as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications and CBT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA. emcclure@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Erin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leibenluft
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors