OBJECTIVE: The limbic system is thought to underlie dysfunctional affective and cognitive processes in individuals with depression. Neuroanatomical studies of subjects with depression have often examined hippocampal and amygdalar structures, since they are two key structures of the limbic system. Research has often but not always found reduced hippocampal volume in patients with major depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in patients with depression subtypes relative to healthy comparison subjects. METHOD: Participants were 1) patients with major depression with psychosis, 2) patients with major depression without psychosis, and 3) healthy comparison subjects. To examine hippocampal and amygdalar volumes, all participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors further examined the effects of clinical and chronicity data on these two brain structures. RESULTS: After age, gender, and total brain volume were controlled, depressed patients with psychosis had a significantly smaller mean amygdala volume relative to depressed patients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. There were no differences between depressed patients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. Correlational analyses suggested that age of depression onset was strongly associated with amygdala volume. No group differences in hippocampal volume were found. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between depressed patients and healthy comparison subjects in hippocampal volume. However, psychotic but not nonpsychotic depression was associated with reduced amygdala volume. Reduced amygdala volume was not associated with severity of depression or severity of psychosis but was associated with age at onset of depression. Smaller amygdala volume may be a risk factor for later development of psychotic depression. In addition, chronicity of depression and depression subtype might be two important factors associated with hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in depression.
OBJECTIVE: The limbic system is thought to underlie dysfunctional affective and cognitive processes in individuals with depression. Neuroanatomical studies of subjects with depression have often examined hippocampal and amygdalar structures, since they are two key structures of the limbic system. Research has often but not always found reduced hippocampal volume in patients with major depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in patients with depression subtypes relative to healthy comparison subjects. METHOD:Participants were 1) patients with major depression with psychosis, 2) patients with major depression without psychosis, and 3) healthy comparison subjects. To examine hippocampal and amygdalar volumes, all participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors further examined the effects of clinical and chronicity data on these two brain structures. RESULTS: After age, gender, and total brain volume were controlled, depressedpatients with psychosis had a significantly smaller mean amygdala volume relative to depressedpatients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. There were no differences between depressedpatients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. Correlational analyses suggested that age of depression onset was strongly associated with amygdala volume. No group differences in hippocampal volume were found. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between depressedpatients and healthy comparison subjects in hippocampal volume. However, psychotic but not nonpsychotic depression was associated with reduced amygdala volume. Reduced amygdala volume was not associated with severity of depression or severity of psychosis but was associated with age at onset of depression. Smaller amygdala volume may be a risk factor for later development of psychotic depression. In addition, chronicity of depression and depression subtype might be two important factors associated with hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in depression.
Authors: E Mervaala; J Föhr; M Könönen; M Valkonen-Korhonen; P Vainio; K Partanen; J Partanen; J Tiihonen; H Viinamäki; A K Karjalainen; J Lehtonen Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2000-01 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: A F Schatzberg; J A Posener; C DeBattista; B M Kalehzan; A J Rothschild; P K Shear Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2000-07 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Thomas Frodl; Eva Meisenzahl; Thomas Zetzsche; Ronald Bottlender; Christine Born; Constanze Groll; Markus Jäger; Gerda Leinsinger; Klaus Hahn; Hans-Jürgen Möller Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2002-05-01 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Mark W Gilbertson; Martha E Shenton; Aleksandra Ciszewski; Kiyoto Kasai; Natasha B Lasko; Scott P Orr; Roger K Pitman Journal: Nat Neurosci Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 24.884
Authors: David M Lyons; Karen J Parker; Jamie M Zeitzer; Christine L Buckmaster; Alan F Schatzberg Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2007-06-14 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Thomas Frodl; Eva M Meisenzahl; Thomas Zetzsche; Christine Born; Constanze Groll; Markus Jäger; Gerda Leinsinger; Ronald Bottlender; Klaus Hahn; Hans-Jürgen Möller Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2002-07 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Katja Franke; Bea R H Van den Bergh; Susanne R de Rooij; Nasim Kroegel; Peter W Nathanielsz; Florian Rakers; Tessa J Roseboom; Otto W Witte; Matthias Schwab Journal: Neurosci Biobehav Rev Date: 2020-01-28 Impact factor: 8.989
Authors: Ryan Kelley; Amy Garrett; Jeremy Cohen; Rowena Gomez; Anna Lembke; Jennifer Keller; Allan L Reiss; Alan Schatzberg Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2012-11-11 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Carrie E Bearden; Paul M Thompson; Christina Avedissian; Andrea D Klunder; Mark Nicoletti; Nicole Dierschke; Paolo Brambilla; Jair C Soares Journal: ASN Neuro Date: 2009-11-10 Impact factor: 4.146
Authors: Jeremy D Cohen; Taylor Nichols; Jennifer Keller; Rowena G Gomez; Alan F Schatzberg; Allan L Reiss Journal: Neurosci Res Date: 2013-03-05 Impact factor: 3.304
Authors: Robert J Tamburo; Greg J Siegle; George D Stetten; C Aaron Cois; Meryl A Butters; Charles F Reynolds; Howard J Aizenstein Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2009-08 Impact factor: 3.485