Cortical thickness and surface area in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and their unaffected siblings

Little is known about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We aimed to examine cortical thickness and surface area in individuals with OCD and their unaffected siblings, comparing them to healthy controls. 30 patients with OCD, 21 unaffected siblings (SIB) and 30 controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Structural images were analyzed using the FreeSurfer software package (version 6.0). Compared to healthy controls, both OCD and SIB groups showed significantly lower cortical thickness in the right anterior insula. Surface areas of the superior frontal gyrus, paracentral gyrus and precuneus of the right hemisphere were also reduced in OCD patients compared to controls. There were no significant differences in cortical thickness and surface area between the OCD and SIB groups. We did not detect any significant differences in subcortical volumes between groups. Lower cortical thickness in the right anterior insula in both OCD patients and unaffected siblings may represent a potential structural endophenotype for OCD.

Automated summary

This study aimed to examine cortical thickness and surface area differences between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and their unaffected siblings. The results showed that both OCD patients and unaffected siblings had significantly lower cortical thickness in the right anterior insula. Additionally, OCD patients had reduced surface areas in the superior frontal gyrus, paracentral gyrus, and precuneus of the right hemisphere. These findings suggest that lower cortical thickness in the right anterior insula may represent a potential structural endophenotype for OCD.