title: Alterations of the default mode network connectivity in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: A pilot study.
abstract: Obsessive-compulsive personality (OCPD) disorder is characterized by a pattern of excessive self-control, perfectionism and behavioral and cognitive rigidity. Despite the fact that OCPD is the most common personality disorder in the general population, published studies looking at the brain correlates of this disorder are practically nonexistent. The main goal of this study was to analyze the presence of brain alterations in OCPD when compared to healthy controls, specifically at the level of the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is a well-established resting state network which was found to be associated with psychological processes that may play a key role in OCPD (e.g., self-awareness, episodic future thinking and mental simulation). Ten individuals diagnosed with OCPD and ten healthy controls underwent a clinical assessment interview and a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition. The results show that OCPD patients presented an increased functional connectivity in the precuneus (i.e., a posterior node of the DMN), known to be involved in the retrieval manipulation of past events in order to solve current problems and develop plans for the future. These results suggest that this key node of the DMN may play an important role in the pathophysiology of OCPD.
authors: Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: joanafpc@gmail.com.
authors: Joana
authors: J
authors: Coutinho
authors: Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Center of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Oscar Filipe
authors: OF
authors: Goncalves
authors: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: José Miguel
authors: JM
authors: Soares
authors: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: Paulo
authors: P
authors: Marques
authors: Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000068356:Self-Control; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Default-mode network; Functional MRI; Functional connectivity; Neuroimaging; Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder