scholarly journals Thalamo-Habenular Connection Differences Between Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Normal Controls

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seo-Eun Cho ◽  
Nambeom Kim ◽  
Kyoung-Sae Na ◽  
Chang-Ki Kang ◽  
Seung-Gul Kang

Background: The thalamus and habenula are thought to be key brain regions in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD); however, few studies have investigated the structural connection between them. We compared the number of white matter tracts between the thalamus and habenula between patient with MDD and normal controls (NCs).Methods: The habenula and thalamus region of interest masks were extracted from brain magnetic resonance imaging data and individual tractography analysis was performed. First, we compared the number of fiber connections from the habenula to the thalamus between the MDD (n = 34) and NC (n = 37) groups and also compared hemispherical differences to investigate possible asymmetries.Results: There was a significant difference in the number of tracts in the right habenula-left mediodorsal thalamus pair between the two groups. For hemispherical fiber connections, the waytotal ratio of the right ipsilateral tract between the thalamus and habenula was significantly higher than that of the left ipsilateral tract in both groups.Conclusion: The number of right habenula-left mediodorsal thalamus tracts was higher in patients with MDD than in NCs. These results indicate that MDD is related to the disintegration of the left thalamus-right habenula tract function with an increased number of tracts as a compensational mechanism.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Huang ◽  
Muni Xiao ◽  
Ming Ai ◽  
Jianmei Chen ◽  
Wo Wang ◽  
...  

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which commonly occurs during adolescence, often co-occurs with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms in adolescents with MDD who engage in NSSI remain unclear. The current study examined the aberrant local neural activity in certain areas of the visual regions and the default mode network (DMN) and the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in changed brain regions in adolescents with MDD who engage in NSSI and adolescents with MDD only.Methods: A total of 67 adolescents with MDD were divided into two groups based on their NSSI behavior: the NSSI group (n = 31) and an age-, gender-, and education-matched MDD group (n = 36). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to assess the severity of MDD. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis was used to detect alterations in local neural activity. Brain regions with aberrant neural activity were considered regions of interest (ROI). ALFF-based rs-FC analysis was used to further explore the underlying changes in connectivity between ROI and other areas in the NSSI group. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between neural changes and clinical characteristics.Results: There was no significant difference in HAMD scores between the two groups. ALFF analysis revealed that, compared to adolescents with MDD only, adolescents with MDD who engaged in NSSI displayed significantly enhanced neural activity in the right fusiform gyrus (FFG. R) and the right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG. R). Significantly reduced rs-FC of the FFG. R-bilateral medial orbital of the superior frontal gyrus (ORBsupmed. L/R)/bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed. L/R), FFG. R-bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG. L/R), DCG. R-left pallidum (PAL. L), DCG. R-right superior temporal gyrus (STG. R), and DCG. R-right postcentral gyrus (PoCG. R)/right inferior parietal lobule (IPL. R) was found in adolescents with MDD who were engaged in NSSI. Additionally, no significant correlations were observed between ALFF or rs-FC values and the HAMD scores between the two groups.Limitations: Owing to the cross-sectional design, the alterations in ALFF and rs-FC values in the FFG. R and DCG. R could not demonstrate that it was a state or feature in adolescents with MDD who engaged in NSSI. Additionally, the sample size was relatively small.Conclusions: This study highlights changes in regional brain activity and remote connectivity in the FFG. R and DCG. R in adolescents with MDD who engage in NSSI. This could provide a new perspective for further studies on the neurobiological mechanism of NSSI behavior in adolescents with MDD.


1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Mendlewicz ◽  
Myriam Kerkhofs ◽  
Guy Hoffmann ◽  
Paul Linkowski

SummaryDexamethasone suppression Test (DST) and sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were carried out during three consecutive nights in 39 depressed patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for major depressive disorder and in nine normal controls. Cortisol response to DST was abnormal in 26 patients and normal in all controls. REM latency and REM density were compared in patients with abnormal DST (n = 26) to values obtained in patients with normal DST (n = 13) and in normal controls (n = 9). Rapid Eye Movement (REM) latencies were significantly lower in depressed patients showing cortisol non-suppression after dexamethasone than in patients with a normal DST or in controls. REM densities were significantly higher in depressed patients than in normal controls (P <0.025), but there was no significant difference between DST suppressors and non–suppressors. The DST provided high specificity (100%) and a sensitivity of 67%, while REM latency showed a lower specificity (78%), but a higher sensitivity (85%).


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zijian Zhang ◽  
Yayun Chen ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
Xiao Yang ◽  
Yajing Meng ◽  
...  

Background: Neurobiological mechanisms underlying the development of major depressive disorder (MDD) may differ depending on onset ages. Our aim was to determine whether regional homogeneity (ReHo) changes in early-onset depression (EOD) and late-onset depression (LOD) are different, which could also delineate EOD and LOD.Methods: Ninety-one MDD patients and 115 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected. The ReHo comparison was conducted using analysis of variance.Results: Compared with HCs, MDD patients showed decreased ReHo in the left precentral gyrus and the left middle cingulum area, and increased ReHo in the left middle orbital frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. Compared with LOD patients, young HC separately, EOD patients had significantly increased ReHo in the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus. However, compared with young HC, EOD patients showed decreased ReHo in the right superior frontal gyrus/supplementary motor area and the right medial frontal gyrus. ReHo in the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus was negatively correlated with the severity of cognitive disturbance in LOD patients (r = −0.47, p = 0.002), but not in EOD patients (r = 0.21, p = 0.178).Conclusion: MDD patients with different onset ages may have different pathophysiological mechanisms; the EOD patients had more abnormal ReHo than LOD patients in the prefrontal lobe, especially the right inferior frontal triangular gyrus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Voigt ◽  
Andrew F. Leuchter ◽  
Linda L. Carpenter

AbstractPatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) may be refractory to or have contraindications that preclude treatment with antidepressant pharmacotherapies. Alternative therapies such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) continue to evolve, and include theta burst stimulation (TBS), which has advantages over conventional rTMS. The aim of this study was to identify and meta-analyze efficacy data from all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating TBS as a treatment for MDD. Published reports of RCTs (January 1, 2010 to October 23, 2020) were identified via systematic searches in computerized databases, followed by review of individual reports for inclusion. Inclusion criteria included primary diagnosis of MDD ≥ 1 week duration of therapy with ≥10 sessions, and treatment with any form of TBS. The Cochrane GRADE methodology and PRISMA criteria were used for evaluation of individual trials. Data from ten RCTs were included, representing 667 patients. Of these, 8 RCTs compared TBS to sham treatment and one compared TBS to standard rTMS (i.e., high frequency stimulation over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [HFL]). Quality of evidence assessment yielded high confidence in the finding of TBS being superior to sham on response measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) (RR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.55; P = 0.007; I2 = 40%). Comparison of HRSD response rates for TBS versus rTMS produced no statistically significant difference (RR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.23; P = 0.80; I2 = 0%). The incidence of adverse events between TBS and rTMS was not statistically different. The findings of a positive effect of TBS vs. sham, and noninferiority of TBS vs. standard HFL rTMS support the continued development of TBS to treat depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Li ◽  
Jakob Seidlitz ◽  
John Suckling ◽  
Feiyang Fan ◽  
Gong-Jun Ji ◽  
...  

AbstractMajor depressive disorder (MDD) has been shown to be associated with structural abnormalities in a variety of spatially diverse brain regions. However, the correlation between brain structural changes in MDD and gene expression is unclear. Here, we examine the link between brain-wide gene expression and morphometric changes in individuals with MDD, using neuroimaging data from two independent cohorts and a publicly available transcriptomic dataset. Morphometric similarity network (MSN) analysis shows replicable cortical structural differences in individuals with MDD compared to control subjects. Using human brain gene expression data, we observe that the expression of MDD-associated genes spatially correlates with MSN differences. Analysis of cell type-specific signature genes suggests that microglia and neuronal specific transcriptional changes account for most of the observed correlation with MDD-specific MSN differences. Collectively, our findings link molecular and structural changes relevant for MDD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S407-S407
Author(s):  
S. Bise ◽  
B. Kurtovic ◽  
D. Begic ◽  
O. Cemalovic

Augmentation strategies for the treatment of Major depressive disorder (MDD) are needed when patients with MDD have a partial, or not responded to antidepressant monotherapy. The focus of augmentation therapy has been combining an antidepressant (AD) medication with another AD. Atypical antipsychotics (AAP) are becoming commonly used to augment antidepressants. Beyond AD and AAP, alternative augmentation strategies include mood stabilizers (MS).AimTo analyze the characteristics of therapy in patients with diagnosis of MDD and to investigate the frequency of augmentation therapy.MethodStudy included 28 patients hospitalized during one year with MDD diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed with x2 and t-test.ResultAmong patients with MDD there were 18 (64.28%) women with an average age 57.5 and 10 (35.71%) men with an average age 53.5. Of the 28 patients with MDD, 25 (89.28%) were treated with a combination therapy, and monotherapy in the remaining 3 patients (10.71%). Of 25 patients with augmentation strategy treatment, 22 (88%) used two medications and the remaining 3 (12%) tree psychotropic medications (AAP, AD, MS). The most frequent combinations were a combination of AD and AAP (17 patients, 68%). Beyond that frequent combination were AD and MS (6 patients, 24%). Two patients used combination two AAP, and one patient with two AD and one patients used AAP and MS.ConclusionAugmentation strategy is often used in patients with MDD. There is no significant difference in the use combination therapy based on gender and age.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye In Woo ◽  
Jisook Park ◽  
Shinn-Won Lim ◽  
Doh Kwan Kim ◽  
Soo-Youn Lee

Abstract Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD), common mental disorder, lacks objective diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers. The objective of this study was to perform proteomic analysis to identify proteins with changed expression levels after antidepressant treatment and investigate differences in protein expression between MDD patients and healthy individuals.Methods: A total of 111 proteins obtained from literature review were subjected to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-based protein quantitation. Finally, seven proteins were quantified for plasma specimens of 10 healthy controls and 78 MDD patients (those at baseline and at 6 weeks after antidepressant treatment of either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazapine). Results: Among 78 MDD patients, 35 patients were treated with SSRIs and 43 patients were treated with mirtazapine. Nineteen (54.3%) and 16 (37.2%) patients responded to SSRIs and mirtazapine, respectively. Comparing MDD patients with healthy individuals, alteration of transthyretin was observed in MDD (p = 0.026). There was no significant difference in protein levels related to SSRIs treatment. Plasma thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) was different between before and after mirtazapine treatment only in responders (p = 0.007).Conclusions: In proteomic analysis of plasma specimens from MDD patients, transthyretin and TBG levels were altered in MDD and changed after antidepressant treatment.


1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyne Prud'homme ◽  
Pierre Barron

In light of Rational-Emotive Theory, this study was undertaken to determine the pattern of irrational beliefs underlying Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A total of 126 subjects (50 males, 76 females) volunteered to participate. Patients clinically diagnosed with MDD (unipolar type) and a control group of non-depressed patients were solicited from the inpatient and outpatient facilities of several Ottawa and Montreal hospitals; the normal control group comprised students and civil servants. The subjects completed questionnaires to measure irrational belief endorsement (IBT, RBI) and symptom severity (STAI, BDI) and to verify the depression diganosis (IDD). Multivariate statistics were used to determine the pattern of beliefs which best discriminates between the MDD group, the psychiatric control group, and the normal controls. Discriminant analysis of the IBT revealed a pattern of four irrational beliefs generally known as demand for approval, frustration reactivity, anxious overconcern, and helplessness over past. The implications of such findings for RET theory are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shasha Li ◽  
Ya Chen ◽  
Gaoxiong Duan ◽  
Yong Pang ◽  
Huimei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Although the acupuncture treatment of major depressive disorder(MDD) has been recognized by the latest clinical practice guidelines of the American Academy of Internal Medicine, complex therapeutic mechanisms need further to clarify. The aim of the study is investigate whether the aberrant resting state brain network in MDD patients could be regulated by acupuncture at GV20 using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) combined with degree centrality(DC) method. Results: Compared to healthy subjects, MDD patients exhibited significantly aberrant DC in widely brain regions, including cortical(PFC, precuneus, temporal, insula) and sub-cortical (thalamus, putamen and caudate) structures. Furthermore, results showed that acupuncture at GV20 induced down-regulation the DC of abnormal brain regions in MDD patients. Conclusions: Our findings provide imaging evidence to support that GV20-related acupuncture stimulation may modulate the abnormal brain function state in MDD patients by using fMRI technique combined with DC analysis. This study may partly interpret the neural mechanisms of acupuncture at GV20 which is used to treat patients with MDD in clinical. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR-IOR-15006357. Registered 05 May 2015, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=10922.


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