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

## TL;DR

This study explores how brain structures like the orbitofrontal cortex and thalamus relate to metacognition in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how metacognitive dysfunction in OCD may be linked to reduced orbitofrontal cortex volume.

## Key findings

- OCD patients had smaller orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes compared to healthy controls.
- Metacognitive scores were negatively correlated with left OFC volume in OCD patients.
- Thalamic volumes were similar between OCD patients and healthy controls.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.

This study investigates the interplay between metacognitive processes and the neuroanatomical characteristics of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and thalamus in obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD). Findings suggest that reduced OFC volumes and specific metacognitive dysfunctions are closely linked to OCD symptoms, highlighting the critical role of these brain regions in understanding and potentially addressing the cognitive mechanisms underlying OCD.