Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the functional brain network abnormalities underlying depression and/or anxiety symptoms (DEP/ANX) in functional movement disorders (FMD).
Background: DEP/ANX symptoms are common in FMD. However, their neural correlates have not been elucidated.
Method: Using resting state functional MRI (3T, Siemens, Skyra), we investigated 43 FMD patients (33F, age 45±(SD)9 years, disease duration 8.4±5,6 years) and 44 matched healthy controls (HC). The DEP and ANX symptoms were scored by the Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). To explore differences in general and selective functional connectivity among FMD-H (n=23; BDI>16, STAI-X2>45), FMD-L (n=17, BDI<16, STAI-X2<45) and HC groups, we used eigenvector centrality (EC) mapping and seed-based connectivity analysis using regions with maximum EC as seeds.
Results: In comparison with the HC group, the FMD-L showed a decrease of general connectivity (EC) in the midcingulate cortex (MCC) (Fig. 1A), while the FMD-H was associated with decreased EC in the inferior occipital gyrus (IOG) (Fig. 1D). Analyzing selective connectivity, the FMD-L<HC comparison revealed decreased connectivity only between the MCC and the motor cortex (Fig. 1B). In contrast, using the FMD-H<HC and FMD-H<FMD-L comparisons, we found that both the MCC and IOG seeds showed decreased connectivity with several cortical and subcortical areas including the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices, as well the thalamus, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum (Fig. 1C, F-G).
Conclusion: We observed that the brain disconnection pattern differed between the FMD subjects with and without depression and/or anxiety, indicating that these symptoms are in FMD associated with wider disruption of motor and non-motor networks. Supported by the grant AZV 16-29651A.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
F. Růžička, R. Jech, K. Mueller, M. Slovák, Z. Forejtová, T. Serranová. Disconnected brain in functional movement disorders with anxious & depressive symptoms [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/disconnected-brain-in-functional-movement-disorders-with-anxious-depressive-symptoms/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/disconnected-brain-in-functional-movement-disorders-with-anxious-depressive-symptoms/