Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Grey matter, a crucial component of the brain, has been found altered in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) of several voxel-based morphometry studies. The conclusive and consistent grey matter alterations in GAD have not been confirmed.
METHODS: Eleven voxel-based morphometry studies of GAD patients were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. The linear model of anxiety severity scores was applied to explore the relationship of grey matter alterations and anxiety severity. The subgroup analysis of adult GAD and adolescent GAD was also performed.
RESULTS: Significantly modest grey matter alterations in the left superior temporal gyrus of patients with GAD were found. The anxiety severity score was significantly correlated with grey matter alterations in the right insula, lenticular nucleus, putamen and striatum. The subgroup analysis of adult GAD and adolescent GAD all failed to show significant grey matter alterations. However, in the adult GAD subgroup, anxiety severity score was significantly correlated with grey matter alterations in the right insula.
CONCLUSIONS: GAD might have the modest grey matter alterations in the left superior temporal gyrus. Anxiety severity might be related to the grey matter alterations in the limbic regions, such as the right insula, lenticular nucleus, putamen and striatum. This kind of correlation might be related to the effects of adult GAD. Future studies with adequate sample sizes and sophisticated GAD categories will be needed.
METHODS: Eleven voxel-based morphometry studies of GAD patients were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. The linear model of anxiety severity scores was applied to explore the relationship of grey matter alterations and anxiety severity. The subgroup analysis of adult GAD and adolescent GAD was also performed.
RESULTS: Significantly modest grey matter alterations in the left superior temporal gyrus of patients with GAD were found. The anxiety severity score was significantly correlated with grey matter alterations in the right insula, lenticular nucleus, putamen and striatum. The subgroup analysis of adult GAD and adolescent GAD all failed to show significant grey matter alterations. However, in the adult GAD subgroup, anxiety severity score was significantly correlated with grey matter alterations in the right insula.
CONCLUSIONS: GAD might have the modest grey matter alterations in the left superior temporal gyrus. Anxiety severity might be related to the grey matter alterations in the limbic regions, such as the right insula, lenticular nucleus, putamen and striatum. This kind of correlation might be related to the effects of adult GAD. Future studies with adequate sample sizes and sophisticated GAD categories will be needed.
摘要：
目标：灰质，大脑的重要组成部分，在广泛性焦虑症（GAD）中发现了一些基于体素的形态计量学研究的改变。GAD中确凿且一致的灰质改变尚未得到证实。
方法：目前的系统评价和荟萃分析包括11项基于体素的GAD患者形态计量学研究。应用焦虑严重程度评分的线性模型探讨灰质改变与焦虑严重程度的关系。还进行了成人GAD和青少年GAD的亚组分析。
结果：发现GAD患者左颞上回的灰质改变明显不明显。焦虑严重程度评分与右侧脑岛的灰质改变显着相关，豆状核,壳核和纹状体。成人GAD和青少年GAD的亚组分析均未显示明显的灰质改变。然而,在成年GAD亚组中，焦虑严重程度评分与右侧脑岛灰质改变显著相关.
结论：GAD可能在左颞上回具有适度的灰质改变。焦虑的严重程度可能与边缘区域的灰质改变有关，比如右边的脑岛，豆状核,壳核和纹状体。这种相关性可能与成人GAD的影响有关。未来的研究将需要足够的样本量和复杂的GAD类别。
方法：目前的系统评价和荟萃分析包括11项基于体素的GAD患者形态计量学研究。应用焦虑严重程度评分的线性模型探讨灰质改变与焦虑严重程度的关系。还进行了成人GAD和青少年GAD的亚组分析。
结果：发现GAD患者左颞上回的灰质改变明显不明显。焦虑严重程度评分与右侧脑岛的灰质改变显着相关，豆状核,壳核和纹状体。成人GAD和青少年GAD的亚组分析均未显示明显的灰质改变。然而,在成年GAD亚组中，焦虑严重程度评分与右侧脑岛灰质改变显著相关.
结论：GAD可能在左颞上回具有适度的灰质改变。焦虑的严重程度可能与边缘区域的灰质改变有关，比如右边的脑岛，豆状核,壳核和纹状体。这种相关性可能与成人GAD的影响有关。未来的研究将需要足够的样本量和复杂的GAD类别。
