White Matter Microstructure Alterations In The Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder:a Diffusion Weighted Imaging Study

Objective:To examine the white matter microstructure alternations in the patients with generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) with diffusion weighted imaging.Methods:19 patients with GAD and 20 matched healthy controls were assessed using apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) and exponential apparent diffusion coefficient(eADC) in the regions of interests(ROIs) approach. The ROIs were the white matter of bilateral cingulate and bilateral hippocampus.Results:Significandy increased ADC values were found in GAD patients(0.78±0.02,0.79±0.03) with respect to normal controls in the right and left anterior cingulate white matter. Significantly decreased eADC values were found in GAD patients(0.46±0.01,0.45±0.01)in the right and left anterior cingulate white matter. Conclusion:Diffuse cingulate white matter alterations on DWI in GAD denote the disruption of white matter integrity.