INTRODUCTION Delusions are core symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum and related disorders. Despite their clinical relevance, the neural correlates underlying such phenomena are unclear. Recent research suggests that specific delusional content may be associated with distinct neural substrates. OBJECTIVE Here, we used structural magnetic resonance imaging to investigate multiple parameters of brain morphology in patients presenting with paranoid type delusional disorder (pt-DD, n = 14) compared to those of healthy controls (HC, n = 25). METHODS Voxel- and surface-based morphometry for structural data was used to investigate gray matter volume (GMV), cortical thickness (CT) and gyrification. RESULTS Compared to HC, patients with pt-DD showed reduced GMV in bilateral amygdala and right inferior frontal gyrus. Higher GMV in patients was found in bilateral orbitofrontal and in left superior frontal cortices. Patients also had lower CT in frontal and temporal regions. Abnormal gyrification in patients was evident in frontal and temporal areas, as well as in bilateral insula. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest the presence of aberrant GMV in a right prefrontal region associated with belief evaluation, as well as distinct structural abnormalities in areas that essentially subserve processing of fear, anxiety and threat in patients with pt-DD. It is possible that cortical features of distinct evolutionary and genetic origin, i.e. CT and gyrification, contribute differently to the pathogenesis of pt-DD.

中文翻译：

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偏执型妄想障碍的异常灰色物质体积和皮质表面。

简介妄想是精神分裂症频谱和相关疾病的核心症状。尽管它们具有临床相关性，但尚不清楚这种现象背后的神经相关性。最近的研究表明，特定的妄想含量可能与不同的神经基质有关。目的在这里，我们使用结构磁共振成像来研究偏执型妄想障碍（pt-DD，n = 14）与健康对照者（HC，n = 25）相比的脑形态学多个参数。方法基于体素和表面的形态学数据用于结构数据研究灰质体积（GMV），皮层厚度（CT）和回旋。结果与HC相比，pt-DD患者双侧杏仁核和右下额回的GMV降低。患者双侧眶额叶和左上额叶皮层中发现较高的GMV。患者的额叶和颞叶CT也较低。患者的额叶和颞叶区域以及双侧岛状回旋异常明显。结论数据表明，与信念评估相关的右前额叶区域存在异常的GMV，以及在本质上应为pt-DD患者提供恐惧，焦虑和威胁处理能力的区域存在明显的结构异常。独特的进化和遗传起源的皮质特征（即CT和回旋）可能对pt-DD的发病机制有不同的贡献。患者的额叶和颞叶区域以及双侧岛状回旋异常明显。结论数据表明，与信念评估相关的右前额叶区域存在异常的GMV，以及在本质上应为pt-DD患者提供恐惧，焦虑和威胁处理能力的区域存在明显的结构异常。独特的进化和遗传起源的皮质特征（即CT和回旋）可能对pt-DD的发病机制有不同的贡献。患者的额叶和颞叶区域以及双侧岛状回旋异常明显。结论数据表明，与信念评估相关的右前额叶区域存在异常的GMV，以及在本质上应为pt-DD患者提供恐惧，焦虑和威胁处理能力的区域存在明显的结构异常。独特的进化和遗传起源的皮质特征（即CT和回旋）可能对pt-DD的发病机制有不同的贡献。pt-DD患者的焦虑和威胁。独特的进化和遗传起源的皮质特征（即CT和回旋）可能对pt-DD的发病机制做出不同的贡献。pt-DD患者的焦虑和威胁。独特的进化和遗传起源的皮质特征（即CT和回旋）可能对pt-DD的发病机制有不同的贡献。