Theta activity of anterior cingulate cortex is associated with the relative change of anxiety level and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patiens with obsessive-compulsive disorder - a pilot study
Abstract
Previous studies have pointed at an important role of anterior cingulate and its rostral and dorsal components in the pathophysiology of obsessive- compulsive disorder. The aim of this study was to examine whether the characteristic electrophysiological activity in delta and theta band in the anterior cingulate cortex measured by the methods of quantitative EEG can be a predictive factor of cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with antidepressants or without phamacotherapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The study included 19 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (13 women). Patients underwent a systematic group cognitive-behavioral therapy in the duration of 6-8 weeks.
Medication was not changed during the therapy. Patients underwent EEG in rest state before initiating the group therapy.
The severity of psychopathology was assessed using an objective questionnaire the Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory at the baseline and at the end of the therapy. We analyzed the relationship between the average relative current density of theta and delta bands in the anterior cingulate cortex and in the rostral and dorsal part separately before initiating the therapy and severity of psychopathology and its relative change due to therapy.
The severity of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms significantly decreased as a result of therapy. Higher average current density of theta band (6.5-8 Hz) in the whole anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsal part at the baseline was associated with a less pronounced change in anxiety.
In the case of rostral anterior cingulate cortex, the relationship between the higher average current density of theta band and a smaller change of the intensity of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The relative value of current density of theta band in the anterior cingulate is a candidate as biological predictor of response to the therapy in terms of anxiety