title: Subregional Shape Alterations in the Amygdala in Patients with Panic Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The amygdala has been known to play a pivotal role in mediating fear-related responses including panic attacks. Given the functionally distinct role of the amygdalar subregions, morphometric measurements of the amygdala may point to the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying panic disorder. The current study aimed to determine the global and local morphometric alterations of the amygdala related to panic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volumetric and surface-based morphometric approach to high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted images was used to examine the structural variations of the amygdala, with respect to extent and location, in 23 patients with panic disorder and 31 matched healthy individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in bilateral amygdalar volumes between patients with panic disorder and healthy individuals despite a trend-level right amygdalar volume reduction related to panic disorder (right, β = -0.23, p = 0.09, Cohen's d = 0.51; left, β = -0.18, p = 0.19, Cohen's d = 0.45). Amygdalar subregions were localized into three groups including the superficial, centromedial, and laterobasal groups based on the cytoarchitectonically defined probability map. Surface-based morphometric analysis revealed shape alterations in the laterobasal and centromedial groups of the right amygdala in patients with panic disorder (false discovery rate corrected p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings suggest that subregion-specific shape alterations in the right amygdala may be involved in the development and maintenance of panic disorder, which may be attributed to the cause or effects of amygdalar hyperactivation.
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sujung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jieun E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Geon Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bori R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Saerom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jooyeon Jamie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Heejung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sohyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Kyoon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lyoo
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*