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Altered hippocampal morphology in unmedicated patients with major depressive illness

Carrie E Bearden1, Paul M Thompson, Christina Avedissian

  • 1Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. cbearden@mednet.ucla.edu

ASN Neuro
|October 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Major depressive disorder is linked to left hippocampal atrophy, especially in severe cases. Past antipsychotic treatment may offer neuroprotection, potentially increasing hippocampal volume.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with memory deficits and hippocampal changes.
  • Previous research shows varied findings on the specificity of these hippocampal alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate regionally specific hippocampal morphology changes in unmedicated patients with MDD.
  • To explore the relationship between depressive symptom severity and hippocampal atrophy.
  • To examine the potential influence of prior atypical antipsychotic treatment on hippocampal volume.

Main Methods:

  • Acquired brain MRIs from 31 unmedicated MDD patients and 31 controls.
  • Utilized 3D parametric mesh models for localized hippocampal morphology analysis.
  • Performed statistical mapping to identify significant alterations.

Main Results:

  • No significant global hippocampal volume differences were found between groups.
  • Increased depressive symptom severity correlated with greater left hippocampal atrophy, particularly in CA1 and subiculum subfields.
  • A trend suggested larger left hippocampal volume in patients with prior atypical antipsychotic treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Illness severity in MDD impacts specific left hippocampal subfields.
  • Past treatment with atypical antipsychotics may have neuroprotective effects on hippocampal volume.
  • Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the neuroprotective effects of antipsychotic treatment.

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