OBJECTIVE: To review the construct of MRI-defined vascular depression and to examine the substantive and methodological issues that bear on its validity as a distinct subtype of depression in late life. DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: We identified three areas that are critical to establishing the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression: (1) understanding and delineating the relationship between MRI hyperintensities, executive dysfunction, and antidepressant treatment outcome; (2) understanding the relationship between, and establishing the validity of, qualitative and quantitative approaches to the measurement of MRI hyperintensities (the primary feature of the proposed subtype); (3) establishing the clinical presentation and course of the subtype in the context of other late-life disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable data supporting the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression, there are a number of critical issues that remain, including establishing a causal relationship between cerebrovascular disease and late-life depression, establishing consistent diagnostic criteria, determining the importance of lesion type and location, and understanding the course of the disorder.
OBJECTIVE: To review the construct of MRI-defined vascular depression and to examine the substantive and methodological issues that bear on its validity as a distinct subtype of depression in late life. DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: We identified three areas that are critical to establishing the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression: (1) understanding and delineating the relationship between MRI hyperintensities, executive dysfunction, and antidepressant treatment outcome; (2) understanding the relationship between, and establishing the validity of, qualitative and quantitative approaches to the measurement of MRI hyperintensities (the primary feature of the proposed subtype); (3) establishing the clinical presentation and course of the subtype in the context of other late-life disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable data supporting the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression, there are a number of critical issues that remain, including establishing a causal relationship between cerebrovascular disease and late-life depression, establishing consistent diagnostic criteria, determining the importance of lesion type and location, and understanding the course of the disorder.
Authors: Laurel D Pellegrino; Matthew E Peters; Constantine G Lyketsos; Christopher M Marano Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2013-09 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Patrick J Brown; Joel R Sneed; Bret R Rutherford; D P Devanand; Steven P Roose Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2013-10-03 Impact factor: 3.485
Authors: Joshua W Kirton; Susan M Resnick; Christos Davatzikos; Michael A Kraut; Vonetta M Dotson Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2013-10-11 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Breno Satler Diniz; Chien-Wei Lin; Etienne Sibille; George Tseng; Francis Lotrich; Howard J Aizenstein; Charles F Reynolds; Meryl A Butters Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2016-07-11 Impact factor: 5.250