Andre Richter1, Cristoph M Woernle2, Niklaus Krayenbühl2, Spyridon Kollias3, David Bellut2. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: andre.richter@uzh.ch. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Affective symptoms are frequent in patients with brain tumors. The origin of such symptoms is unknown; either focal brain injury or reactive emotional distress may be responsible. This cross-sectional pilot study linked depressive symptoms and anxiety to white matter integrity. The objective was to test the hypothesis of a relationship between tissue damage and brain function in patients with brain tumors and to provide a basis for further studies in this field. METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 39 patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial primary brain tumor. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, and examiners rated them on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) and psychological measures were assessed on the basis of regions of interest; the defined regions of interest corresponded to clearly specified white matter tracts. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed correlations between FA in the left internal capsule and scores on the HDRS, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (P < 0.05). HDRS scores were also correlated with FA in the right medial uncinate fasciculus, and state anxiety scores were significantly correlated with FA in the left lateral and medial uncinate fasciculus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that neurobiologic mechanisms related to the integrity of tissue in specific white matter tracts may influence affective symptoms in patients with brain tumors, and these mechanisms can be investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. However, prospective observational studies are needed to investigate further the links between brain structures and the severity of affective symptoms in this patient population.
BACKGROUND: Affective symptoms are frequent in patients with brain tumors. The origin of such symptoms is unknown; either focal brain injury or reactive emotional distress may be responsible. This cross-sectional pilot study linked depressive symptoms and anxiety to white matter integrity. The objective was to test the hypothesis of a relationship between tissue damage and brain function in patients with brain tumors and to provide a basis for further studies in this field. METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 39 patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial primary brain tumor. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, and examiners rated them on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) and psychological measures were assessed on the basis of regions of interest; the defined regions of interest corresponded to clearly specified white matter tracts. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed correlations between FA in the left internal capsule and scores on the HDRS, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (P < 0.05). HDRS scores were also correlated with FA in the right medial uncinate fasciculus, and state anxiety scores were significantly correlated with FA in the left lateral and medial uncinate fasciculus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that neurobiologic mechanisms related to the integrity of tissue in specific white matter tracts may influence affective symptoms in patients with brain tumors, and these mechanisms can be investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. However, prospective observational studies are needed to investigate further the links between brain structures and the severity of affective symptoms in this patient population.
Authors: Ryan Wier; Holly A Aleksonis; Matthew M Pearson; Christopher J Cannistraci; Adam W Anderson; John F Kuttesch; Bruce E Compas; Kristen R Hoskinson Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2019-05-09 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: James L Rogers; Elizabeth Vera; Alvina Acquaye; Nicole Briceno; Varna Jammula; Amanda L King; Heather Leeper; Martha M Quezado; Javier Gonzalez Alarcon; Lisa Boris; Eric Burton; Orieta Celiku; Anna Choi; Alexa Christ; Sonja Crandon; Ewa Grajkowska; Nicole Leggiero; Nicole Lollo; Marta Penas-Prado; Jennifer Reyes; Christine Siegel; Brett J Theeler; Michael Timmer; Kathleen Wall; Jing Wu; Kenneth Aldape; Mark R Gilbert; Terri S Armstrong Journal: Neurooncol Pract Date: 2021-04-10