Malte S Depping1, Nadine D Wolf1, Nenad Vasic2, Zrinka Sosic-Vasic3, Mike M Schmitgen1, Fabio Sambataro4, Robert C Wolf5. 1. Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. 2. Clinical Center Christophsbad, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Goeppingen, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Germany. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Germany. 4. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Sciences (DISM), University of Udine, Italy. 5. Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: christian.wolf@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Abnormal cortical cerebral blood flow and gray matter volume have been frequently reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In contrast, although the role of the cerebellum in MDD pathophysiology has attracted considerable interest more recently, studies investigating both functional and structural aspects of cerebellar integrity are scarce. METHODS: In this study, we used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate cerebellar volume and regional cerebellar blood flow (rCBF) at rest in clinically acute MDD patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 18). We acquired high-resolution structural images at 3 T together with perfusion images obtained with continuous arterial spin labeling. Cerebellar structure and function were investigated using cerebellum-optimized analysis techniques. RESULTS: Markedly increased rCBF was found in bilateral cerebellar areas VIIa and VIIIb (p < 0.05 family-wise-error [FWE] corrected). Significant differences in cerebellar volume between patients and controls were not found (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). Left cerebellar area VIIa perfusion was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. LIMITATIONS: Potential limitations of this study include the modest sample size, the cross-sectional design, the lack of task-related imaging and the heterogeneity of drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest contributions of "affective" cerebellar regions to MDD pathophysiology and symptom expression. While cerebellar perfusion at rest is compromised in MDD, cerebellar volume seems to be less affected.
BACKGROUND:Abnormal cortical cerebral blood flow and gray matter volume have been frequently reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In contrast, although the role of the cerebellum in MDD pathophysiology has attracted considerable interest more recently, studies investigating both functional and structural aspects of cerebellar integrity are scarce. METHODS: In this study, we used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate cerebellar volume and regional cerebellar blood flow (rCBF) at rest in clinically acute MDDpatients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 18). We acquired high-resolution structural images at 3 T together with perfusion images obtained with continuous arterial spin labeling. Cerebellar structure and function were investigated using cerebellum-optimized analysis techniques. RESULTS: Markedly increased rCBF was found in bilateral cerebellar areas VIIa and VIIIb (p < 0.05 family-wise-error [FWE] corrected). Significant differences in cerebellar volume between patients and controls were not found (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). Left cerebellar area VIIa perfusion was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. LIMITATIONS: Potential limitations of this study include the modest sample size, the cross-sectional design, the lack of task-related imaging and the heterogeneity of drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest contributions of "affective" cerebellar regions to MDD pathophysiology and symptom expression. While cerebellar perfusion at rest is compromised in MDD, cerebellar volume seems to be less affected.
Authors: Sally Pessin; Erin C Walsh; Roxanne M Hoks; Rasmus M Birn; Heather C Abercrombie; Carissa L Philippi Journal: Behav Brain Res Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Malte S Depping; Mike M Schmitgen; Claudia Bach; Lena Listunova; Johanna Kienzle; Katharina M Kubera; Daniela Roesch-Ely; R Christian Wolf Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2020-12 Impact factor: 3.847