Distinct Trajectories of Amygdala Connectivity Patterns Characterize Remission vs. Non-Remission in Patients With...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibits significant interindividual variability in antidepressant treatment response.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of this variability is crucial for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural basis of individual differences in antidepressant efficacy.
• To explore resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) patterns associated with treatment outcomes in MDD patients.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in 48 MDD patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs).
• Patients were classified into remission (MDDr) and nonremission (MDDnr) groups.
• Baseline and longitudinal rsFC of amygdala subregions were analyzed and correlated with symptom severity and improvement.

Main Results:

• Baseline rsFC between the right basolateral amygdala and supplementary motor area differed between MDDr, MDDnr, and HCs.
• This rsFC showed distinct longitudinal trajectories in MDDr versus MDDnr groups, with normalization post-treatment.
• rsFC was associated with treatment response and symptom improvement, though some findings require further validation.

Conclusions:

• Amygdala subregional connectivity plays a key role in explaining interindividual differences in antidepressant treatment efficacy.
• These findings offer insights into the neural mechanisms of antidepressant response and personalized treatment strategies for MDD.