Oct, 1, 2023

Vol.30 No.2, pp. 84-88

Current Issue Archives
Search
Advanced Search
Editorial Office

Review

  • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
  • Volume 22(1); 2015
  • Article

Review

Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry 2015;22(1):20-7. Published online: Jan, 1, 2015

Abstract PDF Full Text

Reduced Gray Matter Density in the Posterior Cerebellum of Patients with Panic Disorder : A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

  • Junghyun H. Lee, MD*1,2;Yujin Jeon, MD*3;Sujin Bae, PhD4;Jee Hyang Jeong, MD5;Eun Namgung, BS3;Bori R. Kim, BS3;Soonhyun Ban, RN, MS3;Saerom Jeon, BS3;Ilhyang Kang, MS3; and Soo Mee Lim, MD6;
    1;Psychological Trauma Center, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, 2;Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, 3;Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 4;Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, 5;Department of Neurology and Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, 6;Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Abstract

Objectives : It is increasingly thought that the human cerebellum plays an important role in emotion and cognition. Although recent evidence suggests that the cerebellum may also be implicated in fear learning, only a limited number of studies have investigated the cerebellar abnormalities in panic disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebellar gray matter deficits and their clinical correlations among patients with panic disorder.

Methods : Using a voxel-based morphometry approach with a high-resolution spatially unbiased infratentorial template, regional cerebellar gray matter density was compared between 23 patients with panic disorder and 33 healthy individuals.

Results : The gray matter density in the right posterior-superior (lobule Crus I) and left posterior-inferior (lobules Crus II, VIIb, VIIIa) cerebellum was significantly reduced in the panic disorder group compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected, extent threshold = 100 voxels). Additionally, the gray matter reduction in the left posterior-inferior cerebellum (lobule VIIIa) was significantly associated with greater panic symptom severity (r = -0.55, p = 0.007).

Conclusions : Our findings suggest that the gray matter deficits in the posterior cerebellum may be involved in the pathogenesis of panic disorder. Further studies are needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cerebro-cerebellar network in panic disorder.

Keywords Panic disorder;Cerebellum;Voxel-based morphometry;Gray matter.