The Effects of 5-HTR1A Polymorphism on Cingulum Connectivity in Patients with Panic Disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Serotonin-1A receptors (5-HTR1A) is suggested to be involved in the etiology of several psychiatric disorders including panic disorder (PD). A few imaging studies have suggested the alterations of the cingulum bundle in PD. The objective of this study is to examine the structural changes of cingulum related to the 5-HTR1A polymorphism rs6295 in the patients with PD.


METHODS
Thirty-two right-handed patients with PD [11 men, 21 women; 40.34±13.17 (mean±SD) age] who met the diagnostic criteria in Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV were examined by means of MRI at 3 Tesla. We divided the patients with PD into CC genotype group and non CC genotype group (GG/CG genotype group) of the 5-HTR1A rs6295 polymorphism to compare the cingulum white matter connectivity.


RESULTS
Tract-based spatial statistics showed significantly increased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A CC genotype compared to GG/CG genotype in PD. Significant positive correlations were shown between the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) interoceptive fear subscale scores, the Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised fear of publicly observable anxiety reaction subscale scores and FA values of cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A rs6295 GG/CG genotype group. In CC genotype group, APPQ total, APPQ agoraphobia subscale and APPQ social phobia subscale scores also showed significant positive correlations with FA values of hippocampal process of right cingulum.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests that 5-HTR1A polymorphism may be associated with the cingulum white matter connectivity in PD.
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Seung Taek
ST
Yu
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Min-Kyoung
MK
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Borah
B
Kim
Department of Radiology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Eunhye
E
Yoo
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Gumi Medical Center, CHA University, Gumi, Republic of Korea.
Jun-Yeob
JY
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kang Soo
KS
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Ah Young
AY
Choe
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Ki-Hwan
KH
Yook
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Tai Kiu
TK
Choi
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Hyuk
SH
Lee
5-HTR1A polymorphism; Cingulum; Connectivity; Neuroimaging; Panic disorder