Does local cerebellar volume predict treatment success in anorexia nervosa?. (30th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Milos, Gabriella; Kaufmann, Lisa-Katrin; Jäncke, Lutz; Piccirelli, Marco; Blatow, Maria; Martin-Soelch, Chantal; von Känel, Roland; Hänggi, Jürgen; Baur, Volker
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 317(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-30
• Subjects: Weight gain -- Grey matter -- Morphometry -- Cerebellum -- Prediction -- Outcome; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Brain -- Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Diagnostic Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; Cerveau -- Imagerie pour le diagnostic -- Périodiques; 616.890754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-4927

Abstract

Highlights: Grey matter volumes at admission were assessed to predict treatment success at discharge. Patients with anorexia nervosa who successfully gained weight during inpatient treatment were compared to patients who did not. Poorer post–treatment weight status was predicted by a smaller cerebellar volume in the right crus I at the time of admission. A smaller volume of this region correlated with the inability to identify and express emotions (alexithymia) in the group with poor treatment success. Abstract: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is difficult to treat with up to half of patients failing to gain weight during treatment. Neurobiological factors predicting treatment response in AN are poorly understood. In this longitudinal study, we aimed to identify morphological characteristics in the grey matter which predict treatment success in patients with AN. Fifty patients with severe AN participated in an eating disorder-specific inpatient treatment. On admission, T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired from all patients. Half of the patients successfully gained weight, reaching a body-mass index ≥ 17.5 kg/m 2 . Using voxel-based morphometry, local grey matter volumes were compared between the two groups of patients who gained weight and those who did not. This approach allowed us to identify anatomical characteristics which predict treatment success in terms of post-treatment weight status. Patients who did not reach the weight threshold at discharge had a smaller volume in the right cerebellar crus I at the time of admission. In this group, smaller volume was associated with a greater alexithymia score. The findings suggest that a trophic state within the cerebellum before treatment might be prognostic for treatment success. Consistent with previous reports, this result further substantiates the possible role of the cerebellum in the psychopathology of AN.