Neural Activity Disparities in Deficiency and Excess Patterns of Depression: Protocol for a Systematic Review and...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) is complex and heterogeneous, with current symptom-based diagnoses showing varied treatment responses.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a syndrome-based classification (deficiency and excess patterns) for MDD, potentially revealing biological mechanisms.
• Existing data-driven MDD subtype identification has limited clinical applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify neurobiological distinctions between TCM-defined deficiency and excess patterns in MDD.
• To examine brain activity differences using various functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques.
• To provide insights into personalized treatment strategies for MDD based on TCM patterns.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA-P guidelines.
• Comprehensive search of 7 electronic databases for studies up to December 2024.
• Analysis of resting-state fMRI data using Seed-based d Mapping (SbD-PM) for brain activity differences in MDD patterns.

Main Results:

• Preliminary search identified approximately 30 eligible studies, indicating feasibility for meta-analysis.
• Data extraction, quality appraisal, and synthesis are scheduled to commence in September 2025.
• The systematic review and meta-analysis are expected to be completed by December 2025, with results published in 2026.

Conclusions:

• This research aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying depression subtypes from a TCM perspective.
• Findings may contribute to understanding the neurobiological basis of deficiency and excess patterns in MDD.
• The study could inform more personalized and effective treatment approaches for MDD.