Regional abnormalities of white and gray matter in youths with conduct problems.

Abstract

Conduct problems (CP) encompass a wide array of behavioral difficulties in youths, including aggression, defiance, and rule-breaking, resulting in interpersonal conflicts. CP comprises various psychiatric conditions, constituting a significant public health burden. This study performed a whole-brain coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) that synthesized findings from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and surface-based morphometry (SBM) studies to investigate consistent structural brain abnormalities in children and adolescents with CP. A total of 35 studies were eventually included. Altered white matter integrity in the right lenticular nucleus and the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) were observed. Gray matter volume (GMV) alterations included increased volume in the right superior frontal gyrus, as well as reduced volume in the right supramarginal gyrus and left amygdala. Cortical thickness reductions were detected in the left precentral gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus. These findings underscored the intricate neurobiological basis of CP, and the meta-regression analysis revealed age-related variations in structural brain alterations, further highlighting the need for early and personalized interventions. This comprehensive study advanced our understanding of the neural underpinnings of CP, and future research and interdisciplinary collaboration to translate our findings into meaningful interventions for individuals with CP should be further explored.