Emotion-Processing Biases and Neural Connectivity in Remitted Major Depressive Disorder among Adolescents
Nayoung Kim1, Carter J Funkhouser1, Esha Trivedi1
1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Summary
Altered brain connectivity in adolescents with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD) during sad face processing may indicate future depression risk. This finding could aid early identification and personalized interventions for adolescent depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents is often recurrent and linked to persistent emotion-processing biases.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of these biases is crucial for predicting relapse and developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neural markers of depression risk in adolescents by examining brain connectivity during emotion processing.
- To identify if altered brain activity predicts future depressive symptoms and behavioral withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) and the Facial Recognition Task were used in 161 adolescents (remitted MDD and healthy controls).
- Effective connectivity between the precuneus and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) was analyzed during negative emotion perception.
- Connectivity patterns were correlated with 6-month changes in depressive symptoms and GPS-tracked behavioral withdrawal (homestay).
Main Results:
- No significant group differences were found in the late positive potential (LPP).
- Remitted MDD adolescents showed distinct precuneus-SFG connectivity patterns for sad and angry faces compared to controls.
- Stronger right precuneus-SFG connectivity during sad face processing predicted increased depressive symptom severity and behavioral withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- Altered precuneus-SFG effective connectivity during sad face processing may serve as a neural marker for depression risk in adolescents.
- This neural marker could inform early identification strategies and the development of personalized interventions for adolescent MDD.
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