title: Altered cingulate white matter connectivity in panic disorder patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functional imaging studies of panic disorder subjects suggest an increased activation of the cingulate regions of the brain. Aim of the current study was to explore the white matter connectivity differences between subjects with panic disorder and healthy comparison subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structural white matter connectivity, as determined from fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained by diffusion tensor imaging, was assessed for anterior and posterior cingulate regions in 24 panic disorder patients and 24 age and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with panic disorder exhibited significantly greater FA values in left anterior and right posterior cingulate regions (by 13.3% and 19.6%, respectively) relative to comparison subjects. White matter connectivity for these two cingulate regions was also positively correlated with clinical severity, as determined by Panic Disorder Severity Scale. FA values in left anterior cingulate region negatively correlated with the time of Trail Making Tests and positively with Digit Symbol Substitution Test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest a potential 'enhancement' in white matter connectivity in left anterior and right posterior cingulate regions in panic disorder, and that these changes may play an important role in mediating clinical symptoms of panic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Doug Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Perry F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dager
authors.forename: Ain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jaeuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Kyoon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lyoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D035061:Control Groups; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014145:Trail Making Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water