Metacognition and Its Relationship With Orbitofrontal Cortex and Thalamus Volumes in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to explore the relationship between orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and thalamus volumes and metacognition in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). By analyzing structural MRI data and metacognitive measures, it investigates how brain volume variations correlate with dysfunctional beliefs and OCD symptoms. Method: The study consisted of 20 patients with OCD and 20 healthy controls. Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS), Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) were administered to OCD patients and healthy controls. They then underwent structural MRI scans to measure the volume of the OFC and thalamus. Finding: On both sides, OCD patients had smaller volumes of OFC than healthy control individuals, and their thalamic volumes were similar to those of the control participants. Furthermore, MCQ-30 scores showed a substantial negative correlation with left OFC volume. Conclusion: In conclusion, we suggest that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs might be related to the occurrence of OCD, and these beliefs might be associated with the left side of OFC neuroanatomically.