Brain Morphology Associated With Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in 2,551 Children From the General Population

ObjectiveObsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms are common in the general population, but it is unclear whether subclinical OC and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) part of a neuroanatomical continuum. The goal this study was to investigate relation between subcortical cortical morphology population-based sample children.MethodThe included 2,551 participants, aged 9–12 years, from Generation R Study. were measured using 7-item caregiver-rated Short Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Screener (SOCS). Structural (3T) magnetic resonance imaging scans processed FreeSurfer thalamus other volumes, intracranial volume, vertexwise thickness, surface area. We used linear regression models association brain morphology. Emulating case-control studies literature, we compared children scoring above clinical cutoff SOCS (probable OCD cases, n = 164) with matched without symptoms.ResultsChildren probable had larger thalami control group (d 0.16, p .044). Vertexwise analysis showed positive thickness right inferior parietal cortex, which disappeared after adjusting for total behavioral problems. scores correlated negatively volume (B ?2444, .038).ConclusionChildren alterations similar those previously reported unmedicated OCD. stronger than regional measures. Longitudinal needed further elucidate similarities distinctions neural correlates symptoms. Obsessive-compulsive children. Children .038).