A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of prefrontal cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with and without inherited history

Abstract

Objective To explore the neurochemical changes in the prefrontal cortex among obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients with and without inherited history. Methods The N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline-containing compound (Cho) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) were compared among 10 OCD patients with inherited history and 14 OCD patients without inherited history and 12 healthy controls. Results The NAA level (46 ±8) and NAA/Cr level ( 1.59 ±0. 24) in the OCD patients with inherited history were higher than that NAA (37 ±7) and NAA/Cr ( 1.31 ±0. 21) in the healthy controls. The NAA level in the OCD patients with inherited history was also higher than that in the OCD patients without inherited history.The increasing tendency of the NAA/Cr level was found in the OCD patients without inherited history as compared to the healthy controls. Conclusions The increases of neurochemical metabolite NAA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex may be higher in OCD patients with inherited history as compared to healthy controls and OCD patients without inherited history. Key words: Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Heredity; N-acetylaspartate