Distinct Basal Brain Functional Activity and Connectivity in the Emotional-Arousal Network and Thalamus in Patients With Functional Constipation Associated With Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders

Objective Functional constipation (FC) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Anxiety and/or depressive disorders are common in patients with FC (FCAD). Brain dysfunction may play a role in FC, but the contribution of comorbid anxiety and/or depression in patients with FC is poorly understood. Methods Sixty-five FC patients and 42 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and a hierarchical clustering algorithm was used to classify FC patients into FCAD and patients without anxiety/depressive status (FCNAD) based on neuropsychological assessment. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures including fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity were used to investigate brain functional differences. Results Thirty-seven patients were classified as FCAD, and 28 patients were classified as FCNAD; as compared with HC, both groups showed decreased activity (fALFF) in the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), and precuneus; enhanced precentral gyrus–thalamus connectivity and attenuated precuneus-thalamus connectivity in FCAD/FCNAD highlighted the thalamus as a critical connectivity node in the brain network (pFWE
Source: Psychosomatic Medicine - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research