BACKGROUND: There is little evidence to support possible structural changes in the amygdala and hippocampus of patients with severe depression. METHODS: Quantitative MRI of the amygdala and hippocampus, as well as proton spectroscopy (MRS) of mesial temporal structures were studied in 34 drug-resistant in-patients with major depression and compared with 17 age-matched controls. Volumetric MRI data were normalized for brain size. RESULTS: The volume of the left hippocampus was significantly smaller in the patients compared with the controls. Both groups exhibited similar significant hippocampal asymmetry (left smaller than right). The patients, but not the controls, had significant asymmetry of the amygdalar volumes (right smaller than left). No differences were observed between the patients and controls in the T2 relaxation times for the hippocampus and amygdala. Mesial temporal lobe MRS revealed a significantly elevated choline/creatine ratio in the patients compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative MRI study provides support for a possible association between structural and biochemical substrates and severe drug-resistant major depression.
BACKGROUND: There is little evidence to support possible structural changes in the amygdala and hippocampus of patients with severe depression. METHODS: Quantitative MRI of the amygdala and hippocampus, as well as proton spectroscopy (MRS) of mesial temporal structures were studied in 34 drug-resistant in-patients with major depression and compared with 17 age-matched controls. Volumetric MRI data were normalized for brain size. RESULTS: The volume of the left hippocampus was significantly smaller in the patients compared with the controls. Both groups exhibited similar significant hippocampal asymmetry (left smaller than right). The patients, but not the controls, had significant asymmetry of the amygdalar volumes (right smaller than left). No differences were observed between the patients and controls in the T2 relaxation times for the hippocampus and amygdala. Mesial temporal lobe MRS revealed a significantly elevated choline/creatine ratio in the patients compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative MRI study provides support for a possible association between structural and biochemical substrates and severe drug-resistant major depression.
Authors: Marina Boccardi; Rossana Ganzola; Martina Bocchetta; Michela Pievani; Alberto Redolfi; George Bartzokis; Richard Camicioli; John G Csernansky; Mony J de Leon; Leyla deToledo-Morrell; Ronald J Killiany; Stéphane Lehéricy; Johannes Pantel; Jens C Pruessner; H Soininen; Craig Watson; Simon Duchesne; Clifford R Jack; Giovanni B Frisoni Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2011 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Stefan M Gold; Kyle C Kern; Mary-Frances O'Connor; Michael J Montag; Aileen Kim; Ye S Yoo; Barbara S Giesser; Nancy L Sicotte Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2010-06-19 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Talaignair N Venkatraman; Ranga R Krishnan; David C Steffens; Allen W Song; Warren D Taylor Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2009-04-30 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Jennifer Keller; Lin Shen; Rowena G Gomez; Amy Garrett; H Brent Solvason; Allan Reiss; Alan F Schatzberg Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2008-05-01 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Britta K Hölzel; James Carmody; Karleyton C Evans; Elizabeth A Hoge; Jeffery A Dusek; Lucas Morgan; Roger K Pitman; Sara W Lazar Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci Date: 2009-09-23 Impact factor: 3.436
Authors: P E Adams; J S Adams; D V Nguyen; D Hessl; J A Brunberg; F Tassone; W Zhang; K Koldewyn; S M Rivera; J Grigsby; L Zhang; C Decarli; P J Hagerman; R J Hagerman Journal: Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet Date: 2010-04-05 Impact factor: 3.568