Systematic Review: White Matter Microstructural Organization in Adolescents With Depression

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Depression is a significant mental health concern in adolescents.
• Neural mechanisms underlying adolescent depression are increasingly studied.
• White matter microstructure plays a crucial role in brain development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review white matter microstructural differences in adolescents with and without depressive disorders.
• To identify specific white matter regions affected in adolescent depression using diffusion imaging.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and PsycINFO databases.
• Inclusion of original research papers comparing diffusion tensor/spectrum imaging findings in adolescents (ages 11-21) with and without depression.
• Adherence to PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration for systematic review rigor.

Main Results:

• 14 studies involving 824 adolescents with depression and 686 controls were included.
• Significant differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) were observed in the uncinate fasciculus, cingulum, anterior corona radiata, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and corpus callosum.
• Most studies reported decreased FA in adolescents with depression, suggesting aberrant white matter integrity.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with depression exhibit aberrant white matter microstructure in limbic-cortical-striatal-thalamic circuits and the corpus callosum.
• Findings suggest disruptions in brain connectivity associated with depressive disorders in this age group.
• Future research should explore developmental trajectories, heterogeneity, and multimodal imaging integration in adolescent depression.