Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
Hippocampal volume as treatment predictor in antidepressant naïve patients with major depressive disorder
Pablo Patricio Zarate-Garza1, Jessica Alejandra Ortega-Balderas1, Jose Alfonso Ontiveros-Sanchez de la Barquera2
1Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon, School of Medicine, Human Anatomy Department, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Insights
Individuals with major depression disorder and larger baseline hippocampal volumes were more likely to achieve remission after antidepressant treatment. This finding suggests hippocampal volume may predict treatment outcomes in depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) impacts psychosocial functioning and quality of life.
- Hippocampal volume (HV) reduction is a noted biological alteration in MDD.
- Prior studies show inconsistent findings on HV, clinical features, and antidepressant treatment response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between hippocampal volume and antidepressant treatment response in first-time diagnosed, antidepressant-naïve MDD subjects.
- To investigate if baseline hippocampal volume predicts clinical remission.
- To assess the predictive value of HV for treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 21 antidepressant-naïve MDD subjects.
- Assessment using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI).
- Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to measure baseline hippocampal volumes.
- Naturalistic treatment with first-line antidepressant medication for eight weeks.
Main Results:
- Thirteen subjects (62%) achieved remission at eight weeks.
- Subjects who achieved remission had significantly larger baseline right (p=0.012) and left (p=0.001) hippocampal volumes.
- Larger pretreatment hippocampal volumes were associated with successful clinical remission.
Conclusions:
- Antidepressant-naïve MDD subjects achieving clinical remission demonstrated larger baseline hippocampal volumes.
- Baseline hippocampal volume may serve as a predictor of antidepressant treatment outcome.
- HV could be a valuable biomarker for predicting treatment response in MDD.
Abstract:
Major depression disorder (MDD) limits psychosocial functioning and quality of life. One of the biological alterations is a hippocampal volume (HV) reduction. Previous prospective neuroimaging studies present inconsistencies regarding HV reductions and clinical features and response of antidepressant treatment of the participants. To clarify the relationship between antidepressant response and the HV reported, we prospectively evaluated antidepressant-naïve subjects diagnosed with MDD for the first time. We recruited twenty-one subjects and applied the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. The participants underwent brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning to measure the HV, and subsequently were treated naturalistically with first-line antidepressant medication for eight weeks. Thirteen subjects met the criteria for remission at eight weeks of treatment. The baseline right and left hippocampal volumes were larger in subjects who achieved remission (p = 0.012) and (p = 0.001), respectively. The main finding of this study is that the antidepressant naïve subjects who met the criteria for clinical remission according to the HAM-D, MADRS, and the CGI scale scores, had larger pretreatment hippocampal volumes. Our results assess the HV as a treatment outcome predictor.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia