Abstract
Objective: Hippocampal volume is reduced in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared with healthy controls. The hippocampus is a limbic structure that has a critical role in MDD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the volume of the hippocampus and its subfields in MDD patients who responded to antidepressants and subsequently were in continuous remission. Subjects and Methods: Eighteen patients who met the following criteria were enrolled in the present study: the DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD, drug-naïve at least 8 weeks or more, scores on the 17-items of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) of 14 points or more, and antidepressant treatment response within 8 weeks and continuous remission for at least 6 months. All participants underwent T1-weighted structural MRI and were treated with antidepressants for more than 8 weeks. We compared the volumes of the hippocampus, including its subfields, in responders at baseline to the volumes at 6 months. The volumes of the whole hippocampus and the hippocampal subfields were measured using FreeSurfer v6.0. Results: The volumes of the left cornu Ammonis (CA) 3 (p = 0.016) and the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus (GC-DG) region (p = 0.021) were significantly increased after 6 months of treatment compared with those at baseline. Conclusions: Increases in volume was observed in MDD patients who were in remission for at least 6 months.
Highlights
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a lifelong, episodic, prevalent and disabling mental disorder found in individuals worldwide
There is no adequate evidence to establish that hippocampal neurogenesis is necessary for the antidepressant’s efficacy [27,28]
The volumes of the bilateral CA1, bilateral CA4, left CA2/3, bilateral GCL, and bilateral ML were decreased in medicated MDD patients compared with healthy subjects [29]
Summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a lifelong, episodic, prevalent and disabling mental disorder found in individuals worldwide. The cause of MDD is multifactorial, including genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors, as well as their interactions. The hippocampus plays an important role in MDD. According to the reviewed literature, MDD is characterized by an altered structural network that encompasses reduced volumes of the orbitofrontal cortex(OFC), anterior cingulate, hippocampus, and striatum [1]. The anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala and hippocampus comprise. IInnccrreeaasseedd rriigghhtt hhiippppooccaammppaall vvoolluummeess hhaavvee bbeeeenn ffoouunndd iinn ffeemmaallee rreessppoonnddeerrss ccoommppaarreedd ttoo nnoonnrreessppoonnddeerrss aafftteerr 88 wweeeekkss ooff flfluuooxxeettiinnee ttrreeaattmmeenntt aammoonngg MMDDDD ppaattiieennttss [[99]]. OOnn tthhee ootthheerr hhaanndd,, ttrreeaattmmeennttwwitihthesecsictiatlaolpoprarmamdiddidnontortesruesltuilnt iancahacnhgaentgheethhiepphoipcpamocpaaml pvoalluvmoleu[m10e].[1M0a].llMeraeltlearl.e[t1a1l]. TTootthheebbeessttooffththeeaauuththoorrss’’kknnoowwleleddggee,,nnoopprreevviioouussrreeppoorrttsshhaavveeiinnvveessttiiggaatteedd tthhee vvoolluummee ooff hhiippppooccaammppaall ssuubbffiieellddss aafftteerr66mmononthths sofocfocnotnintuinouuosursemreimssiisosnioinn MinDMDDpDatipenattiseanfttseratfrteearttmreeanttmweintht wanitthidaenptriedsesparnetsss, athnetsr,eftohreerethfoeraeimtheofatihme opfrethseenpt rsetusednytwstausdtyo winavsesttoigiantveetshteigcahtaentgheescihnatnhgeevsoilnumthees voofluthmeeshoipf pthoecahmipppuoscaamnpduistsansdubitfsiesludbsfieinldsMinDMD DpDatipeanttisenwtshwohroersepsopnodneddedtotoaannttiiddeepprreessssaannttss aanndd ssuubbsseeqquueennttllyyaarreeiinnccoonnttiinnuuoouussrreemmisisssioionn. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW IInntt..JJ..MMooll.
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