The rise and fall of MRI studies in major depressive disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) is frequently associated with structural and functional brain changes.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key technology for studying these brain alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent structural and functional MRI studies on MDD from 1995-2018.
• To identify limitations in using MRI for MDD diagnosis and propose solutions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of MRI studies in MDD.
• Analysis of the challenges of reverse inference in neuroimaging research.
• Proposal of multidisciplinary technological "bridges" for future research.

Main Results:

• Numerous MRI studies exist for MDD, but they do not enable diagnosis or treatment planning due to the reverse inference fallacy.
• Current MRI findings alone are insufficient for clinical application in MDD.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming the reverse inference fallacy is crucial for developing effective MDD diagnostic tools.
• Integrating artificial intelligence, multimodality imaging, and nanotheranostics can create "bridges" for deeper biological study of MDD.
• These integrated approaches promise advancements in diagnostics for MDD and other mental disorders.