Magnetic-resonance morphometry in patients with major depression

Psychiatry Res. 1998 Nov 9;84(1):7-15. doi: 10.1016/s0925-4927(98)00042-0.

Abstract

Magnetic-resonance morphometry performed on 72 patients with major depression compared with 38 control subjects replicated previously reported, statistically significant reductions in the volumes of the caudate (P < 0.03) and putamen (P < 0.05) in depressed patients. Borderline statistical significance was observed for whole-brain (P < 0.07) and frontal volume (P < 0.10) in a subsample of 32 patients matched on age and sex with 32 control subjects, whereas statistical significance was observed for the full sample (P < 0.007 and P < 0.03, respectively). Chronological age was related to volume of the frontal lobes (P < 0.0002), caudate (P < 0.0001), putamen (P < 0.008), thalamus (P < 0.002), cerebellum (P < 0.007), lateral ventricles (P < 0.0001), and ratios of [whole brain]/[whole brain + cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] (P < 0.0001) and [frontal]/[frontal + CSF] (P < 0.0001). Age of first depressive episode was related to putamen volume after accounting for chronological age (R2= 0.16, P < 0.005), and a correlation of 0.26 (P < 0.04) was observed between caudate volume and global mental status. Results are in accord with previous reports of basal-ganglia abnormalities in depressed patients and support the role of subcortical structures in mediating affective disorder.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Depressive Disorder / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Severity of Illness Index