Parsing differences in amygdala volume among individuals with and without social and generalized anxiety disorders across the lifespan

Abstract

Structural differences in the amygdala (AMG) are implicated in anxiety and observed among individuals with generalized (GAD) and social anxiety (SAD) disorders. Findings have been mixed, perhaps because studies rarely examine differences between GAD and SAD, test comorbidity, or examine age-related differences. We tested AMG volume differences among a sample of adults and youth with/without SAD and GAD. Participants (N = 242; ages 7–60 years) completed an MRI scan, diagnostic interviews, and anxiety symptom measures. Groups were formed from diagnostic interviews: 1) Typically developing (TD; n = 91); 2) GAD (n = 53); 3) SAD (n = 35); and 4) comorbid SAD/GAD (n = 63). We used analysis of covariance with a bonferroni correction to examine group differences in AMG volume. The SAD and comorbid SAD/GAD groups exhibited increased bilateral AMG volume compared to the TD group. GAD and TD groups did not differ from each other in AMG size. The SAD, but not the comorbid SAD/GAD group, displayed greater right AMG size relative to the GAD group. SAD and comorbid SAD/GAD groups did not differ from the GAD group in left AMG volume. SAD and SAD/GAD groups did not exhibit different bilateral AMG size. Linear regression analyses demonstrated that greater social anxiety but not generalized anxiety symptom severity was associated with enlarged AMG volume. Age was not associated with AMG volume and nor did age moderate any group or symptom effects. Future longitudinal studies should examine whether larger AMG volume is a unique biomarker for SAD across the lifespan.