The influence of stress on neuroinflammation and alterations in brain structure and function in major depressive disorder

Suicidal ideation (SI) is a direct risk factor for suicide in patients with depression. Regarding the emergence of SI, previous studies have discovered many risk factors, including childhood abuse as the major public problem. Previous imaging studies have demonstrated that SI or childhood abuse has effects on brain structure and function, respectively, but the interaction effects between them have not been fully studied. To explore the interaction effect between SI and childhood abuse, 215 patients with major depressive disorder completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to evaluate childhood abuse and Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation to evaluate SI. Then, they completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within one week after completing questionnaires. Respectively, we preprocessed the structural and functional images and analyzed gray matter volumes (GMV) and mean fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (mfALFF) values. Results showed that the changes of GMV in the cuneus, precuneus, paracentric lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, and caudate nucleus and local activity in cuneal and middle temporal gyrus are in relation with SI and childhood abuse. And in left caudate, SI and childhood abuse interact with each other on the influence of GMV. That is, the influence of SI in GMV was related to childhood abuse, and the influence of childhood abuse in GMV was also related to SI. Therefore, the combination of SI and childhood abuse based on imaging should help us better understand the suicide ideation developing mechanism and propose more effective targeted prevention strategies for suicide prevention.

Download Full-text

Stress and the Brain

The Oxford Handbook of Stress and Mental Health ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190681777.013.20 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 434-462

Author(s):

Deanna M. Barch ◽

David Pagliaccio

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Life Stress ◽

Early Life ◽

Diffusion Imaging ◽

Early Life Stress ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Brain Structure And Function ◽

And Function

This chapter reviews associations between early life stress and brain structure and function as assessed by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Particularly, this chapter focuses on structural associations in children and adults and the regional overlap with neural alterations observed in major depressive disorder, though we also more briefly cover diffusion imaging, task-based imaging, and resting-state functional connectivity. Major depressive disorder is highlighted given that early life stress is a critical risk factor for depression and the neural alterations observed with stress and depression may serve as key mediating factors of this association. A brief methodological overview is provided for each neuroimaging domain as well as a discussion of limitations and future directions for this field.

Download Full-text

Major Depressive Disorder in Neuroimaging: What is Beyond Fronto-limbic Model?

Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573400515666181213155225 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 37-43

Author(s):

Chien-Han Lai

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Limbic Structures ◽

Emotional Memories ◽

Brain Structure And Function ◽

In The Beginning ◽

And Function

Background: The major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic illness with major manifestations in cognitive, social and occupational functions. The pathophysiological model is an intrigue issue for scientists to understand the origin of MDD. Objective: In the beginning, the cortico-limbic-striato-pallidal-thalamic model has been proposed to link the clinical symptoms with the abnormalities in brain structure and function. However, the model is still evolving due to recent advances in the neuroimaging techniques, especially for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The recent findings in the fMRI studies in MDD showed the importance of fronto-limbic model for the modulations between cognitive function and primitive and negative emotions. Method: This review will focus on the literature of fMRI studies in MDD with findings not in the fronto-limbic structures. Results: Additional regions beyond the fronto-limbic model have been observed in some literature of MDD. Some regions in the parietal, temporal and occipital lobes have been shown with the alterations in gray matter, white matter and brain function. The importance of sensory detection, visuospatial function, language reception, motor response and emotional memories in these regions might provide the clues to understand the cognitive misinterpretations related to altered reception of outside information, behavioral responses related to biased cognition and emotional memories and clinical symptoms related to the significant alterations of interactions between different brain regions. Conclusion: Future studies to establish a more comprehensive model for MDD will be warranted, especially for the model beyond the fronto-limbic structures.

Download Full-text