Baseline Function in Reward Circuitry in Adolescents With Anxiety Distinguishes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Responders and Non-Responders

Abstract

Function in frontostriatal reward circuitry is altered in youth with anxiety. While variability in this circuitry predicts treatment response in adolescent depression, it is unclear whether it contributes similarly to response in adolescent anxiety. We hypothesized that a more typical pattern of frontostriatal function—greater ventral striatum (VS) response, weaker prefrontal-VS connectivity—would characterize anxious adolescents who respond to psychosocial treatment.