title: Volumetric differences in the pituitary between drug-naïve and medicated male patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are induced or aggravated by stress, and the pituitary is a key component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We examined pituitary volume in drug-naïve and medicated male patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies were conducted on 62 male control subjects, medicated male patients (N=50) and drug-naïve male patients (N=12) with OCD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pituitary volume was significantly smaller in drug-naïve patients with OCD (464.97+/-55.82 mm(3)) compared to medicated patients (577.84+/-129.11 mm(3), P=0.004) and control subjects (543.04+/-113.70 mm(3), P=0.027), and no difference between control subjects and medicated patients (P=0.174).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that drug-naïve male patients with OCD exhibit decreased pituitary volume. This finding suggests that dysregulation of the HPA axis in OCD may influence pituitary volume. In addition, the increased pituitary volume in medicated patients may reflect the effect of drugs on the pituitary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Do-Hyung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jung-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Wi Hoon
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Joon Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chi-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors