Altered network homogeneity of the default-mode network in drug-naive obsessive−compulsive disorder

Default-mode network (DMN) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of obsessive−compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the network homogeneity (NH) of DMN in OCD remains equivocal. This study aimed to investigate abnormalities in the NH of the DMN at rest and the correlation between the NH of DMN and clinical variables in patients with OCD. This study used the independent component analysis and unbiased hypothesis-driven NH method to analyze the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 40 drug-naive patients with OCD and 40 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs). Patients with OCD exhibited decreased NH values in the left ventral medial prefrontal cortex and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus (PCu) compared with HCs. Furthermore, analyses of receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that the decreased NH values in the right PCC/PCu may be used as a candidate neuroimaging marker to distinguish patients with OCD from HCs. These findings contribute new evidence of the participation of the altered NH of the DMN in the pathophysiology of OCD. Study on the mechanism of brain network in obsessive-compulsive disorder with multi-model magnetic resonance imaging (ChiCTR-COC-17013301). •The NH of the DMN at resting state in OCD is decreased.•The decreased NH in the right PCC/PCu can be used as a candidate neuroimaging•marker to distinguish patients with OCD from HCs.•The findings contribute new evidence of the participation of the abnormal NH of the DMN in the pathophysiology of OCD.