title: Brain structural correlates of sensory phenomena in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensory phenomena (SP) are uncomfortable feelings, including bodily sensations, sense of inner tension, "just-right" perceptions, feelings of incompleteness, or "urge-only" phenomena, which have been described to precede, trigger or accompany repetitive behaviours in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sensory phenomena are also observed in individuals with tic disorders, and previous research suggests that sensorimotor cortex abnormalities underpin the presence of SP in such patients. However, to our knowledge, no studies have assessed the neural correlates of SP in patients with OCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the presence of SP using the University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale in patients with OCD and healthy controls from specialized units in São Paulo, Brazil, and Barcelona, Spain. All participants underwent a structural magnetic resonance examination, and brain images were examined using DARTEL voxel-based morphometry. We evaluated grey matter volume differences between patients with and without SP and healthy controls within the sensorimotor and premotor cortices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 106 patients with OCD and 87 controls in our study. Patients with SP (67% of the sample) showed grey matter volume increases in the left sensorimotor cortex in comparison to patients without SP and bilateral sensorimotor cortex grey matter volume increases in comparison to controls. No differences were observed between patients without SP and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients were medicated. Participant recruitment and image acquisition were performed in 2 different centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have identified a structural correlate of SP in patients with OCD involving grey matter volume increases within the sensorimotor cortex; this finding is in agreement with those of tic disorder studies showing that abnormal activity and volume increases within this region are associated with the urges preceding tic onset.
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM); and Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Subirà
authors: Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil.
authors: João R
authors: JR
authors: Sato
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM); and Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Pino
authors: P
authors: Alonso
authors: Children and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: do Rosário
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); and Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Cinto
authors: C
authors: Segalàs
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo C
authors: MC
authors: Batistuzzo
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); and Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Real
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Antonio C
authors: AC
authors: Lopes
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Ester
authors: E
authors: Cerrillo
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Juliana B
authors: JB
authors: Diniz
authors: MRI Research Unit, CRC Mar, Hospital del Mar, CIBERSAM-G21, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Pujol
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Rachel O
authors: RO
authors: Assis
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM); and Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Menchón
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Roseli G
authors: RG
authors: Shavitt
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Geraldo F
authors: GF
authors: Busatto
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM); and Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Narcís
authors: N
authors: Cardoner
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Euripedes C
authors: EC
authors: Miguel
authors: Department & Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo Q
authors: MQ
authors: Hoexter
authors: Psychiatry Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL); Carlos III Health Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM); and Department of Psychobiology and Methodology in Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Carles
authors: C
authors: Soriano-Mas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009929:Organ Size; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013030:Spain
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