Increased prevalence of white matter hyperintensities in patients with panic disorder

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to compare the prevalence, severity and location of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) between patients with panic disorder (PD) and healthy control subjects. Patients with PD (n = 24) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 24) were scanned using a 3.0 Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance scanner. Axial T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images were acquired and evaluated for the prevalence, severity and location of WMH using the modified composite scale of Fazekas and Coffey and coded separately for deep and periventricular WMH. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between WMH and the diagnosis of PD. A greater severity of total WMH was associated with a diagnosis of PD in a dose-dependent pattern (odds ratio [OR] = 8.8, P = 0.005 for mild WMH; OR = 27.7, P = 0.007 for moderate to severe WMH). Deep WMH, where most group differences originated, were predominantly located in the frontal region of the brain (n = 16 in PD, n = 1 in control). The current report is the first study to report an increased prevalence of WMH in patients with PD.

An evidence-based causal model of panic disorder

“…It has been theorized that panic disorder may represent a similar mechanism in humans. Compared to healthy controls, individuals with panic disorder also reportedly show decreased blood flow in the left superior temporal gyrus and the left supramarginal gyrus, and increased blow flow in the right parahippocampal gyrus (Koh, Kang, Lee, & Lee, in press), as well as increased white matter hyperintensities, particularly in the frontal lobe (Bae et al, 2010). Metabolic disturbances have been observed in panic, resulting in elevated lactate levels in the brain that may increase susceptibility to panic attacks (Maddock, Buonocore, Copeland, & Richards, 2009).…”

Brain Structure Changes Associated With Methamphetamine Abuse in Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…In a study by Thompson et al no significant changes of gray matter were reported in methamphetamine abuse; while, there was a severe decrease in the gray matter of syngolite, limbic, and paralimbic cortex lobes in those who were methamphetamine-dependent [15]. In a study by Change et al, no changes were observed in total brain volume in both experimental and control groups [28]. However, globus pallidus and putamen were much bigger in those with methamphetamine dependency compared with the control group, and the mid-posterior section of the corpus callosum was larger in women; it is possibly because of gliosis and inflammatory response to brain trauma following amphetamine abuse.…”

“…In contradiction, another study has shown that men probably do not benefit from the protective features of estrogen in brain veins [26]. What threatens methamphetamine abusers is developing behavioral disorders such as depression, panic and bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia, in which cases a rise in WMH has been reported [27][28][29].…”

T2 Hyperintensity of Medial Lemniscus: Higher Threshold Application to ROI Measurements is More Accurate in Predicting Small Vessel Disease

“…WMH are common findings on T2‐weighted and FLAIR images of the brain. Differential diagnostic possibilities for WMH are broad and may include SVD related to aging or cardiovascular risk factors, as well as many other possibilities 1,11‐24 . Although the most common conditions causing white matter changes are SVD, MS, and nonspecific changes, differentiating among them can sometimes be problematic even after careful consideration of demographic and clinical findings.…”