BACKGROUND: Findings of brain structural changes in major depressive disorder are still inconsistent, partly because some crucial clinical variables have not been taken into account. AIMS: To investigate the effect of major depressive disorder on grey matter volumes. METHOD: Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare 66 patients with depression at different illness stages (22 each with first-episode, remitted-recurrent and treatment resistant/chronic depression) with 32 healthy controls. Brain volumes were correlated with clinical variables. RESULTS: Voxel-based morphometry showed a significant group effect in right superior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus and left cingulate gyrus (P<0.05, family wise error-corrected). Patients whose condition was treatment resistant/chronic exhibited the smallest volumes in frontotemporal areas. Longer illness duration was negatively correlated with decreases in right medial frontal cortex and left insula. CONCLUSIONS: Frontotemporolimbic areas are smaller in the patients with severe depression and are associated with duration of illness, but not with medication patterns, suggesting negative effects of long-lasting major depressive disorder on grey matter.
BACKGROUND: Findings of brain structural changes in major depressive disorder are still inconsistent, partly because some crucial clinical variables have not been taken into account. AIMS: To investigate the effect of major depressive disorder on grey matter volumes. METHOD: Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare 66 patients with depression at different illness stages (22 each with first-episode, remitted-recurrent and treatment resistant/chronic depression) with 32 healthy controls. Brain volumes were correlated with clinical variables. RESULTS: Voxel-based morphometry showed a significant group effect in right superior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus and left cingulate gyrus (P<0.05, family wise error-corrected). Patients whose condition was treatment resistant/chronic exhibited the smallest volumes in frontotemporal areas. Longer illness duration was negatively correlated with decreases in right medial frontal cortex and left insula. CONCLUSIONS: Frontotemporolimbic areas are smaller in the patients with severe depression and are associated with duration of illness, but not with medication patterns, suggesting negative effects of long-lasting major depressive disorder on grey matter.
Authors: Laura Hiltunen; Jari Haukka; Reija Ruuhela; Kirsi Suominen; Timo Partonen Journal: Environ Health Prev Med Date: 2014-05-03 Impact factor: 3.674
Authors: Nadine A Schwab; Jared J Tanner; Peter T Nguyen; Ilona M Schmalfuss; Dawn Bowers; Michael Okun; Catherine C Price Journal: Brain Imaging Behav Date: 2015-12 Impact factor: 3.978