title: Neural correlates of anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: Panic disorder has been associated with dysfunctional neuropsychological dimensions, including anxiety sensitivity. Brain-imaging studies of the neural correlates of emotional processing have identified a network of structures that constitute the neural circuitry for emotions. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and insula, which are part of this network, are also involved in the processing of threat-related stimuli. The aim of the study was to investigate if neural activity in response to emotional stimuli in the cortico-limbic network is associated to anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder. In a sample of 18 outpatients with panic disorder, we studied neural correlates of implicit emotional processing of facial affect expressions with a face-matching paradigm; correlational analyses were performed between brain activations and anxiety sensitivity. The correlational analyses performed showed a positive correlation between anxiety sensitivity and brain activity during emotional processing in regions encompassing the PFC, ACC and insula. Our data seem to confirm that anxiety sensitivity is an important component of panic disorder. Accordingly, the neural underpinnings of anxiety sensitivity could be an interesting focus for treatment and further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: poletti.sara@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radaelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vai
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smeraldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Anterior cingulate cortex; Brain imaging; Insula