Adolescent Major Depressive Disorder: Neuroimaging Evidence of Sex Difference during an Affective Go/No-Go Task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects twice as many females as males, yet male MDD often receives less research attention.
• Significant sex differences exist in MDD presentation and suicide rates, particularly during adolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex differences in adolescent MDD using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To explore brain activity and connectivity variations between depressed males and females during a critical developmental period.

Main Methods:

• fMRI scans were acquired from 24 depressed and 10 healthy male adolescents, and 82 depressed and 24 healthy female adolescents (aged 11-18).
• Participants completed an affective go/no-go task during fMRI acquisition.

Main Results:

• Significant sex differences in brain activation were observed in the supramarginal gyrus in response to sad distractors.
• Group-by-sex interactions were found in the supramarginal gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex.
• Depressed male adolescents exhibited decreased cerebellar activation compared to healthy males, with a group-by-age interaction in connectivity.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent MDD presents with distinct neural correlates in males and females.
• Findings suggest potential sex-specific developmental trajectories and underscore the need for tailored treatment and prevention strategies for adolescent MDD.