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Reduced hippocampal volume in unmedicated, remitted patients with major depression versus control subjects
Alexander Neumeister1, Suzanne Wood, Omer Bonne
1Section on Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. alexander.neumeister@yale.edu
Background:
Hippocampal volumes obtained from a group of medication-free, remitted subjects with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared against corresponding measures from healthy controls.
Methods:
Thirty-one subjects with recurrent MDD in full remission, and 57 healthy controls underwent high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a GE 3T scanner. Eight patients with MDD were medication-naive, and twenty-three MDD patients were off antidepressant medications for a mean of 30 months at the time of the MRI study.
Results:
Patients showed smaller total and posterior hippocampal volume relative to controls. Anterior hippocampal volume did not differ between patients and controls.
Conclusions:
Recurrent depression is associated with smaller hippocampal volume which is most prominent in the posterior hippocampus. Smaller hippocampal volume appears to be a trait characteristic for MDD.
Insights
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is linked to reduced hippocampal volume, particularly in the posterior region. This finding suggests smaller hippocampal volume may be a persistent trait in individuals with recurrent depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Investigated medication-free, remitted individuals with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Compared hippocampal volumes against healthy controls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hippocampal volumes in recurrent MDD patients versus healthy controls.
- To determine if hippocampal volume differences are a trait characteristic of MDD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a 3T scanner.
- Included 31 remitted MDD patients (8 medication-naive) and 57 healthy controls.
- MDD patients were off medication for an average of 30 months.
Main Results:
- MDD patients exhibited smaller total and posterior hippocampal volumes compared to controls.
- No significant difference in anterior hippocampal volume was observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Recurrent depression is associated with reduced hippocampal volume, most notably in the posterior hippocampus.
- Smaller hippocampal volume may represent a trait characteristic of major depressive disorder.
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