Major Depressive Disorder Group Research Articles

Intrusive thoughts and memories in adolescents with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Research in adults suggests that intrusive memories and intrusive thoughts (often referred to as intrusive cognitions) are common in members of the general population and are often seen in clinical disorders. However, little is known about the experience of intrusive cognitions in adolescents, particularly in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study sought to gather fundamental data on these phenomena (i.e., frequency, characteristics and appraisals of intrusive cognitions) in adolescents with MDD and PTSD. Adolescents aged 11-18 with MDD (n = 11), PTSD (n = 13) and a non-clinical control group (n = 25) completed structured interviews concerning their intrusive memories and thoughts. Intrusive thoughts were common in all three groups but were particularly frequently experienced in the MDD group. Intrusive memories were expectedly very common in the PTSD group but also experienced by over half of the adolescents with MDD. Both clinical groups reported more negative emotions in response to their intrusive thoughts or memories and appraised these cognitions more negatively than the non-clinical group. Intrusive memories and thoughts are common experiences in adolescents with MDD and PTSD. Emotions and appraisals relating to these cognitions may be targets for psychological intervention in this age group. However, small sample sizes limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Replication is needed with larger numbers of clinical participants.

Disruptions in segregation mechanisms in fMRI-based brain functional network predict the major depressive disorder condition

This study investigates the functional brain network in major depressive disorder using network theory and a consensus network approach. At the macroscopic level, we found significant differences in connectivity measures such as node strength and clustering coefficient, with healthy controls exhibiting higher values. This is consistent with disruptions in functional brain network segregation in patients with major depressive disorder. Consensus network analysis revealed that the central executive and salience networks were predominant in healthy controls, whereas depressed patients showed greater overlap with the default mode network. No differences were found in network efficiency measures, indicating comparable brain network integration between healthy controls and major depressive disorder groups. Importantly, the clustering coefficient emerged as an effective diagnostic biomarker for depression, achieving high sensitivity (90%), specificity (92%), and overall precision (90%). Further analysis at the mesoscale level uncovered unique functional connections distinguishing healthy controls and major depressive disorder groups. Our findings underscore the utility of analyzing functional networks from the macroscale to the mesoscale, and provide insight into overcoming the challenges associated with intersubject variability and the multiple comparisons problem in network analysis.

Association of aging related genes and immune microenvironment with major depressive disorder

ObjectiveTo study the relationship between aging related genes (ARGs) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MethodsThe datasets GSE98793, GSE52790 and GSE39653 for MDD were obtained from the GEO database, and ARGs were obtained from the Human Aging Genome Resources database. Differential expression genes (DEGs) screening and GO, KEGG enrichment analysis were performed to uncover the underlying mechanisms. To identify key ARGs associated with MDD (key ARG-DEGs), we employed machine learning methods such as LASSO, SVM, and Random Forest, as well as the plug-ins CytoHubba-MCC and MCODE methods. SsGSEA was used to analyze the immune infiltration of MDD and healthy controls. Furthermore, we created risk prediction nomograms model and ROC curves to assess not only the ability of key ARG-DEGs to diagnose MDD, but also predicted miRNAs and transcription factors (TFs) that might interact. Finally, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to confirm the association of identified key ARG-DEGs with depression. ResultsDEGs of ARGs between MDD and healthy controls led to the identification of eight ARG-DEGs. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the pathways associated with these eight ARG-DEGs were primarily concentrated in Foxo pathway, JAK-STAT pathway, Pl3K-AKT pathway, and metabolic diseases. A comprehensive analysis further narrowed down the 8 ARG-DEGs to 4 key ARG-DEGs: MMP9, IL7R, S100B, and EGF. Immune infiltration analysis indicated significant differences in CD8(+) T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, Th2 cells, and TIL cells between MDD and control groups, correlating with these four key ARG-DEGs. Based on these four key ARG-DEGs, a risk prediction model for MDD was developed. The miRNA-TF-mRNA interaction network of the key ARG-DEGs highlights the complexity of the regulatory process, providing valuable insights for future related research. The MR study suggested a potential causal relationship between MMP9 and the risk of depression. ConclusionThe process of aging, immune dysregulation, and MDD are closely interconnected. MMP9, IL7R, S100B, and EGF may be used as novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for MDD, especially MMP9.

Social contexts are associated with higher emotional awareness than nonsocial contexts: Evidence in a sample of people with and without major depressive disorder.

Growing evidence suggests that social contexts may prompt qualitatively distinct experiences of emotions than nonsocial contexts. In this study of people's naturalistic daily emotional experiences, we examined in adults with and without major depressive disorder (MDD) whether experiencing emotions in a social context (with others) versus nonsocial context (without others) was associated with greater emotional clarity and attention to one's emotional experience (i.e., emotional awareness). Based on evidence that social stimuli are highly salient to social species, we predicted that interactions with social others-and especially close social others-would be associated with greater emotional awareness. We furthermore expected that individuals with MDD, who tend to have diminished emotional clarity and social deficits, might experience less emotional awareness in social settings than healthy controls. Across a 2-week experience sampling study that concluded in 2019, we assessed emotional awareness when people were interacting with others (vs. not) and interacting with close (vs. nonclose) others among adults with current MDD (n = 53), remitted MDD (n = 80), and healthy controls (n = 87). As expected, attention to emotion and emotional clarity were higher in social versus nonsocial contexts and when interacting with close versus nonclose others. Contrary to expectations that these effects would be weaker among those with current MDD, the current MDD group showed enhanced emotional clarity in social versus nonsocial settings compared to the other two groups. Insofar as emotional clarity is beneficial to well-being, these findings suggest those with MDD may especially benefit from social contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Neural correlates of thought–action fusion and their associations with rumination in patients with major depressive disorder

Thought-action fusion (TAF) is the metacognitive belief that the power of thoughts can have real-life consequences, often inducing unpleasant inner experiences and recruiting coping strategies such as rumination. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the neural correlates of TAF and their associations with rumination in depression. A total of 37 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 37 healthy controls (HCs) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging with a TAF induction task and psychological assessments. In the TAF induction task, participants were asked to read the name of a close person (CP) or neutral person (NP) in association with negative (Neg) TAF and neutral (Neu) control statements. In this study, our TAF induction task activated brain regions, including the salient and default-mode networks, in the MDD and HC groups. However, along with higher likelihood TAF and rumination, behavioral data showed less negative feelings and longer reaction times under the NegCP condition in the MDD group compared with the HC group. Furthermore, in the MDD group, significantly higher activation in the bilateral caudate nuclei, left inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula, putamen, and inferior parietal lobule under the NegCP condition was positively correlated with TAF and reflection. These findings suggest that during the TAF task, patients with MDD may activate different brain areas associated with the maintenance of high stimulus saliency and habit formation, which are important neural correlates linking TAF and rumination in depression.

Standardized weighted low-resolution electromagnetic tomography study of the amygdala activity in patients with comorbid major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms

Major depressive disorder (MDD) often coexists with anxiety disorders or symptoms, as identified by previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. These studies have found abnormal amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the amygdala, which serve as traits and state markers of MDD. This study used standardized weighted low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (swLORETA) technology to explore amygdala markers in patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety. Participants included patients with MDD comorbid with anxiety symptoms (MDD group) and healthy controls (HC group) who completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). EEG data collected under resting state, happiness recall, and depressive recall tasks were converted into current-source density (CSD) values using swLORETA to assess amygdala activation. The results indicated higher beta2, beta3, and high beta levels in both the left and right amygdalae during the resting state in the MDD group than in the HC group. Similarly, elevated levels of beta2, beta3, and high beta were observed in the left and right amygdalae of the MDD group during happiness and depressive recall tasks. These findings support the presence of hyperactivity in the amygdala under resting state and emotional tasks in patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety symptoms.

Altered electroencephalography-based source functional connectivity in drug-free patients with major depressive disorder

BackgroundCompared to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), source localization of a scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) provides higher temporal resolution and frequency synchronization to better understand the potential neurophysiological origins of disrupted functional connectivity (FC) in major depressive disorder (MDD). The present study aimed to investigate EEG-sourced measures to examine the FC in drug-free patients with MDD. MethodResting-state 32-channel EEG were recorded in 84 drug-free patients with MDD and 143 healthy controls, and the cortical source signals were estimated. Exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) was used to compute the intracortical activity from regions within the default mode network (DMN) and frontoparietal network (PFN). Lagged phase synchronization was used as a measure of functional connectivity. ResultsCompared with control subjects, the MDD group showed greater within-DMN alpha 1 and 2 bands and within-FPN alpha 1, 2, and beta 3 bands. Furthermore, the MDD group showed hyperconnectivity between the DMN and the FPN in the alpha 1 and 2 bands. Finally, higher levels of anhedonia were associated with higher between-network DMN and FPN connectivity in the alpha-1 band. LimitationsDue to the inherent limitations of eLORETA with predefined seeds, we could not exclude connectivity between regions of interest (ROIs), which may be related to the activity from regions adjacent to the ROIs. ConclusionsThe present findings support the importance of phase-lagged functional dysconnectivity in the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying MDD. Exploring the potential of these patterns as surrogates for treatment responses may advance targeted interventions for depression.

EEG Oscillations in Recent Suicide Attempters: Assessing Responses to Positive and Negative Future Imagination Tasks

Background: Our goal is to uncover Electroencephalography (EEG) power spectrum patterns during imagination tasks in individuals who attempted suicide within the past 1-4 weeks, addressing gaps in understanding the neural correlates of future imagination in suicidal behavior. Methods: This case-control study comprised a total of 60 participants, consisting of 47 females and 13 males. The sample comprised three groups: Attempted Suicide + Major Depressive Disorder (SA+MDD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Healthy Controls (HC). To assess participants' future imagination, a unique approach called the Positive and Negative Future Imagination Task was designed, which involved scenario visualization concurrent with EEG recording. Statistical analyses included ANOVA with post-hoc pairwise comparisons to compare EEG power spectrum between three groups. Results: It was observed that the SA+MDD group experienced significantly increased theta frequency band in the right frontocentral regions when compared to the MDD group during both positive and negative imagination tasks (P-value< 0.05). Furthermore, increased gamma activity was observed in the SA+MDD group compared to the HC group, predominantly in the right frontocentral areas during both imagination tasks. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that individuals who have recently attempted suicide exhibit heightened neural activity in the frontocentral regions of the right hemisphere of the brain, specifically in theta and gamma band frequencies, when contemplating both positive and negative aspects of the future. These findings, in the context of behavioral tasks may indicate a decrease in the ability to envision a positive future and an increase in visualizing a negative future.

An observational study on variations of serum uric acid level in patients of depression and healthy controls and its correlation with hidden bipolarity

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the most studied psychiatric disorders, this being one of the leading causes of disability in young individuals. In search for its predictive biomarker, serum uric acid (UA) level was seen to have a pathophysiologic role in the genesis of BD through oxidative stress and other mechanism. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate serum UA levels in patients with 1st episode depression, to compare serum UA levels between patients and matched healthy controls and to compare serum UA levels between patients with and without hidden bipolarity and therefore, and to evaluate whether it can be used as a predictor of bipolarity. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted in a tertiary care center in Eastern India for a duration of 3 months with a sample size of 92, comprising 46 cases with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 46 control groups of healthy subjects. Their serum UA levels were estimated. The study population was subjected to a mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ) and Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scoring. All these data were tabulated in a master sheet and analyzed using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences 25 software. Results: The mean age of the study population was 32 years with 46 males and 46 females. The mean UA levels for MDD group was 5.27±1.14 mg/dL and for control group was 4.6±1.2 mg/dL, which was seen to be statistically significant (P=0.001). No statistically significant association was seen between the group with a high likelihood of bipolarity versus a low chance of bipolarity with respect to UA levels. A positive correlation was seen between MDQ scores and UA levels of depressed individuals (using Spearmen’s rho: rs=0.345, P=0.019), but not with their MADRS scores. Conclusion: Serum UA levels are significantly higher in depressed patients as compared to healthy subjects. A non-statistical association was seen between UA levels and their bipolar tendencies, owing to a small sample size of comparable groups. However, a higher MDQ score was associated with high UA levels. A larger study population is needed to conclusively establish the predictive role of UA with respect to BD.

Insomnia Catastrophizing and Affective Temperaments in Major Depressive Disorder

Background and Objective We aim to assess the role of affective temperaments, insomnia severity, sleep quality, and depressive anxiety symptoms in predicting catastrophizing insomnia in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).Methods Our study employed a case-control design, involving 90 drug-free MDD patients and 90 healthy controls (HCs) with identical sociodemographic characteristics. Participants completed a comprehensive set of assessments, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Catastrophizing Scale (ICS), and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A).Results Among the 90 MDD patients, 80% were female (n = 72), with a mean age of 32.2 ± 13.6 years. The MDD group exhibited significantly higher scores on the BDI, BAI, ISI, PSQI, ICS night, ICS daytime, and ICS total scores, along with depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious temperament scores, compared to the HCs (p &lt; 0.001). Notably, the hyperthymic temperament showed no correlation with insomnia catastrophizing in either group. Our findings revealed that the ISI score was a predictive factor for the ICS night; age and ISI were predictive factors for the ICS daytime; and age, anxious temperament, and ISI were predictive factors for the ICS total in the MDD group.Conclusions The severity of insomnia, young age, and an anxious temperament were identified as positive predictors of insomnia catastrophizing.

Elevated levels of apolipoprotein A4 in umbilical cord serum from the maternal major depressive disorder.

Prenatal maternal depression is known to affect the neurodevelopment of offspring. This study aimed to investigate the profile of umbilical cord serum in mothers with major depressive disorder (MDD). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was conducted using umbilical cord serum from mothers with MDD (n = 5) and controls (control, n = 5). The levels of several differentially expressed proteins in umbilical cord serum were compared between the MDD (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proteomic profiles in the umbilical cord serum were different between the MDD and control groups, including the pathways of regulation of plasma lipoprotein particle levels, and synapse organization. Only apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) was significantly higher in the cord blood of MDD group. APOA4 levels in maternal serum were also significantly higher in the MDD group than those in the control group. The APOA4 levels in the umbilical cord serum were higher than that in the maternal serum. The levels of APOA4, a biomarker of depression, in the umbilical cord serum at birth were elevated in the neonates of MDD mothers. It is, therefore, likely that fetuses of MDD mothers were exposed to higher APOA4 levels in utero and this could have developmental and mental health implications for the offspring.

Exploring the role of affective temperaments: predicting major depressive disorder in the context of borderline personality disorder

ABSTRACT Purpose Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex condition believed to arise from a multifaceted interplay of genetic, environmental, and biological factors. In the pursuit of understanding its etiology, two elements that warrant investigation are borderline personality disorder (BPD) and affective temperaments. We aim to gain deeper insights into the mechanisms underlying this debilitating mental health condition. Method The dataset comprises individuals who sought assistance from psychiatry outpatient clinics for diverse reasons during the period spanning from 2018 to 2022. These individuals underwent SCID-II assessments to diagnose borderline personality disorder (BPD) and also completed the TEMPS-A temperament tests. Results The mean years of schooling was lower in the MDD group (p = 0.014). Two groups are compared in terms of affective temperament. Depressive (p < 0.0001), cyclothymic (p < 0.0001), anxious (p = 0.001), and irritable (p < 0.0001) temperament scores were statistically higher in the MDD group. Apart from the scale scores, the prevalence of affective temperament was evaluated and the same temperaments (depressive (p < 0.0001), cyclothymic (p < 0.0001), anxious (p = 0.001), and irritable (p < 0.0001)) were found to be significantly higher in the MDD group. Diagnosis of BPD is higher in the MDD group (p = 0.002). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of cyclothymic temperament and marital status may be predictor factors for the development of MDD (p < 0.0001, CI: 0.001–0.121 and p = 0.002, CI: 1.550–7.172, respectively). Conclusion Notably, higher scores in cyclothymic temperament and experiencing loneliness have been identified as significantly associated with MDD. Interestingly, in patients with comorbid BPD-MDD, the presence of cyclothymic temperament appears to be a more critical factor than personality traits. This finding underscores the potential role of cyclothymic temperament in contributing to the co-occurrence of BPD and MDD.

Enhanced classification and severity prediction of major depressive disorder using acoustic features and machine learning.

Previous studies have classified major depression and healthy control groups based on vocal acoustic features, but the classification accuracy needs to be improved. Therefore, this study utilized deep learning methods to construct classification and prediction models for major depression and healthy control groups. 120 participants aged 16-25 participated in this study, included 64 MDD group and 56 HC group. We used the Covarep open-source algorithm to extract a total of 1200 high-level statistical functions for each sample. In addition, we used Python for correlation analysis, and neural network to establish the model to distinguish whether participants experienced depression, predict the total depression score, and evaluate the effectiveness of the classification and prediction model. The classification modelling of the major depression and the healthy control groups by relevant and significant vocal acoustic features was 0.90, and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves analysis results showed that the classification accuracy was 84.16%, the sensitivity was 95.38%, and the specificity was 70.9%. The depression prediction model of speech characteristics showed that the predicted score was closely related to the total score of 17 items of the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-17) (r=0.687, P<0.01); and the Mean Absolute Error(MAE) between the model's predicted score and total HAMD-17 score was 4.51. This study's results may have been influenced by anxiety comorbidities. The vocal acoustic features can not only effectively classify the major depression and the healthy control groups, but also accurately predict the severity of depressive symptoms.

Irritability in youth: Trauma, maltreatment, and bullying in mood disorders

ObjectiveDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is characterized by irritability and anger outbursts, categorized under depressive disorders along with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in DSM-5. This study aims to investigate exposure to peer bullying and trauma in irritable youth with DMDD and compare it with those with MDD and healthy controls. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 313 participants aged 12–17 (DMDD: 103, MDD: 105, healthy controls: 105; mean age 15.0±1.6). The diagnosis was established using the Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) semi-structured interview. The Olweus Bullying Questionnaire, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and sociodemographic forms were utilized. ResultsBoth DMDD and MDD groups experienced significantly more physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect, compared to the healthy control group. Among the DMDD group, 34.9% were bullies, 42.7% were victims, and 18.4% were bully-victims. ConclusionAdolescents diagnosed with DMDD are at increased risk for experiencing peer bullying and trauma. Emotional dysregulation and intense outbursts of anger predispose these individuals to both perpetrate and fall victim to peer bullying, as well as to become bully-victims. Including irritable adolescents in peer bullying intervention programs may be beneficial. Additionally, considering the elevated risk of anger outbursts and irritability in individuals exposed to trauma, they should be closely monitored.

Correlates of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among adolescents with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A)

BackgroundDespite evidence regarding prevalence and correlates of cannabis use (CU) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) in adults, little is known about this topic among adolescents. MethodsData is from the 2001–2004 National Comorbidity Survey–Adolescent Supplement, an in-person, cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of mental disorders. Participants included adolescents, ages 13–18 years, with MDD (n = 354 with CU, n = 70 with CUD, n = 688 with no CU), BD (n = 79 with CU, n = 32 with CUD, n = 184 with no CU), or adolescents without mood disorders (n = 1413 with CU, n = 333 with CUD, n = 6970 with no CU). Analyses examined prevalence and correlates of CU and CUD within MDD and BD groups. ResultsCU was most prevalent in adolescents with MDD followed by adolescents with BD then controls. CUD was most prevalent in adolescents with BD followed by adolescents with MDD then controls. In covariate-adjusted ordinal logistic regression models, within MDD and BD, CU and CUD groups had significantly higher odds of lifetime suicidal ideation/attempts, as well as other significant indicators of clinical severity. LimitationsBased on changes in cannabis acceptance, potency, and availability in the two decades since this study was conducted, present findings may underestimate adverse cannabis associations. ConclusionCU and CUD are both associated with adverse clinical characteristics in a community-based sample of adolescents with MDD and BD. Evidence that risks of cannabis use extend across the spectrum of use is important for adolescents with MDD and BD, in whom cannabis-related consequences tend to be more severe.

The Relationship of Immune Markers with Severity and Heritability of Depressive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study from North India

Background: Inflammatory response plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of depression. With this background, we planned this study to see if immune markers, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are raised in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD) and compare its level with healthy controls and first-degree relatives of subjects. We also explored if variation in the level of these markers was related to the severity of depression. Methods: This comparative observational study included 120 subjects, who were divided into three groups of 40 individuals each. Group 1 was the MDD group, group 2 was the healthy first-degree relative group, and group 3 was the healthy control group. All the subjects were then made to undergo estimation of IL-6 (pg/mL) and ESR (mm/h) from our hospital biochemistry lab. The patients in group 1 were additionally screened for the severity of depression. Results: The mean IL-6 and ESR measure within the MDD group was 9.20 ± 13.40 (pg/mL) and 5.90 ± 5.35 (mm/h), respectively. We found that the mean and median values of both IL-6 and ESR were highest in the MDD group as compared to other groups, which were statistically significant ( p &lt;0.05). A pairwise comparison found no significant difference in the IL-6 and ESR scores among the healthy controls and healthy first-degree relatives. The mean of IL-6 was highest in individuals with moderate severity of depression, while the mean of ESR was highest in individuals with severe depression. Conclusion: The immune markers, IL-6 and ESR, were significantly raised in the MDD group; however, the levels did not correlate significantly with the differential severity of the depressive disorder as per Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) scores.

Frontal Activity of Recent Suicide Attempters: EEG spectrum Power Performing Raven Task.

Background: Deficits in problem-solving may be related to vulnerability to suicidal behavior. We aimed to identify the electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectrum associated with the performance of the Raven as a reasoning/problem-solving task among individuals with recent suicide attempts. Methods: This study with the case-control method, consisted of 61 participants who were assigned to three groups: Suicide attempt + Major Depressive Disorder (SA + MDD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Healthy Control (HC). All participants underwent clinical evaluations and problem-solving abilities. Subsequently, EEG signals were recorded while performing the Raven task. Results: The SA + MDD and MDD groups were significantly different from the HC group in terms of anxiety, reasons for life, and hopelessness. Regarding brain oscillations in performing the raven task, increased theta, gamma, and betha power extending over the frontal areas, including anterior prefrontal cortex, dlPFC, pre-SMA, inferior frontal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex, was significant in SA + MDD compared with other groups. The alpha wave was more prominent in the left frontal, particularly in dlPFC in SA + MDD. Compared to the MDD group, the SA + MDD group had a shorter reaction time, while their response accuracy did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Suicidal patients have more frontal activity in planning and executive function than the two other groups. Nevertheless, it seems that reduced activity in the left frontal region, which plays a crucial role in managing emotional distress, can contribute to suicidal tendencies among vulnerable individuals. Limitation The small sample size and chosen difficult trials for the Raven task were the most limitations of the study.

Abnormal activation patterns in MT+ during visual motion perception in major depressive disorder.

Previous studies have found that patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit impaired visual motion perception capabilities, and multi-level abnormalities in the human middle temporal complex (MT+), a key brain area for processing visual motion information. However, the brain activity pattern of MDD patients during the perception of visual motion information is currently unclear. In order to study the effect of depression on the activity and functional connectivity (FC) of MT+ during the perception of visual motion information, we conducted a study combining task-state fMRI and psychophysical paradigm to compare MDD patients and healthy control (HC). Duration threshold was examined through a visual motion perception psychophysical experiment. In addition, a classic block-design grating motion task was utilized for fMRI scanning of 24 MDD patients and 25 HC. The grating moved randomly in one of eight directions. We examined the neural activation under visual stimulation conditions compared to the baseline and FC. Compared to HC group, MDD patients exhibited increased duration threshold. During the task, MDD patients showed decreased beta value and percent signal change in left and right MT+. In the sample comprising MDD and HC, there was a significant negative correlation between beta value in right MT+ and duration threshold. And in MDD group, activation in MT+ were significantly correlated with retardation score. Notably, no such differences in activation were observed in primary visual cortex (V1). Furthermore, when left MT+ served as the seed region, compared to the HC, MDD group showed increased FC with right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex and decreased FC with left precuneus. Overall, the findings of this study highlight that the visual motion perception function impairment in MDD patients relates to abnormal activation patterns in MT+, and task-related activity are significantly connected to the retardation symptoms of the disease. This not only provides insights into the potential neurobiological mechanisms behind visual motion perception disorder in MDD patients from the aspect of task-related brain activity, but also supports the importance of MT+ as a candidate biomarker region for MDD.

The impact of ACTH levels on neurotransmitters and antioxidants in patients with major depressive disorder: A novel investigation

BackgroundThe relationship between neurotransmitters and oxidative stress in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients, considering HPA axis activity and psychological and cognitive states, is unclear. This study examines changes in neurotransmitters (GABA, Glx) and antioxidants (GSH) in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) of MDD patients under varying levels of ACTH, and their relationship with psychological and cognitive conditions. MethodsForty-five MDD patients were divided into high-ACTH (>65 pg/mL; n = 16) and normal-ACTH (7–65 pg/mL; n = 29) groups based on blood ACTH levels, along with 12 healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent HAM-D, HAM-A assessments, and most completed MMSE and MoCA tests. GABA+, Glx, and GSH levels in the dACC were measured using the MEGA-PRESS sequence. Intergroup differences and correlations between clinical factors, HPA axis activity, and metabolites were analyzed. ResultsCompared to HC, the normal ACTH group showed higher Glx and lower GSH levels. Glx and GSH were negatively correlated with MDD severity. In the high-ACTH MDD group, Glx positively correlated with delayed memory, and GSH positively correlated with abstraction. Factors influencing GABA included ACTH levels, depression duration, and negative events. Predictive factors for HAM-D scores were GSH and GABA. LimitationsThe sample size is small. ConclusionMDD patients exhibit neurochemical differences in the brain related to HPA axis levels, MDD severity, and cognitive function. Clinical factors, neurotransmitters, and neuroendocrine levels significantly influence depression severity.

The mediating role of family functioning between childhood trauma and depression severity in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

BackgroundChildhood trauma (CT) and family functioning exert significant influences on the course and long-term outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients. Hence, we examined the intricate relationship between CT, family function, and the severity of depressive episodes in MDD and BD patients. Methods562 patients with depressive episodes (336 MDD and 226 BD) and 204 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this retrospective study. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II-CV) were assessed. Pearson correlation analysis and mediation analysis were performed. ResultsCT had both a direct and indirect impact on depression severity in MDD and BD groups. In MDD, family adaptability mediated the impact of all CT subtypes on depression severity (Effect = 0.113, [0.030, 0.208]). In BD, family cohesion played a mediating role between emotional neglect (EN) and HAMD-17 scores (Effect = 0.169, [0.008, 0.344]). Notable differences were observed in onset age, illness duration, episode frequency, family history, and CT subtypes between MDD and BD (P < 0.05). LimitationsThis study has several limitations including recall bias, lack of objective family functioning measures, small sample size, and cross-sectional design. ConclusionsFamily functioning mediated the impact of CT on depressive symptoms severity in MDD and BD patients. MDD patients with a history of CT exhibited reduced family adaptability, while BD patients with a history of EN had weaker familial emotional bonds. Our findings highlighted the importance of family-focused preventive interventions in mitigating the long-term effects of CT.