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Sankar A, Ozenne B, Dam VH, Svarer C, Jørgensen MB, Miskowiak KW, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM, Fisher PM. Association between brain serotonin 4 receptor binding and reactivity to emotional faces in depressed and healthy individuals. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:165. [PMID: 37169780 PMCID: PMC10175268 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02440-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain serotonergic (5-HT) signaling is posited to modulate neural responses to emotional stimuli. Dysfunction in 5-HT signaling is implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), a disorder associated with significant disturbances in emotion processing. In MDD, recent evidence points to altered 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) levels, a promising target for antidepressant treatment. However, how these alterations influence neural processing of emotions in MDD remains poorly understood. This is the first study to examine the association between 5-HT4R binding and neural responses to emotions in patients with MDD and healthy controls. The study included one hundred and thirty-eight participants, comprising 88 outpatients with MDD from the NeuroPharm clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02869035) and 50 healthy controls. Participants underwent an [11C]SB207145 positron emission tomography (PET) scan to quantify 5-HT4R binding (BPND) and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan during which they performed an emotional face matching task. We examined the association between regional 5-HT4R binding and corticolimbic responses to emotional faces using a linear latent variable model, including whether this association was moderated by depression status. We observed a positive correlation between 5-HT4R BPND and the corticolimbic response to emotional faces across participants (r = 0.20, p = 0.03). This association did not differ between groups (parameter estimate difference = 0.002, 95% CI = -0.008: 0.013, p = 0.72). Thus, in the largest PET/fMRI study of associations between serotonergic signaling and brain function, we found a positive association between 5-HT4R binding and neural responses to emotions that appear unaltered in MDD. Future clinical trials with novel pharmacological agents targeting 5-HT4R are needed to confirm whether they ameliorate emotion processing biases in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Sankar
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brice Ozenne
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibeke H Dam
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin B Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamilla W Miskowiak
- Neurocognition and Emotion in Affective Disorders (NEAD) Centre, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, and Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick M Fisher
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2
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Bartlett EA, Zanderigo F, Stanley B, Choo TH, Galfalvy HC, Pantazatos SP, Sublette ME, Miller JM, Oquendo MA, Mann JJ. In vivo serotonin transporter and 1A receptor binding potential and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of stress in major depression and suicidal behavior. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 70:1-13. [PMID: 36780841 PMCID: PMC10121874 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
We examined relationships between the serotonin system and stress in major depression and suicidal behavior. Twenty-five medication-free depressed participants (13 suicide attempters) underwent same-day [11C]DASB and [11C]CUMI-101 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Binding potential (BPND) to the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor, respectively, was quantified using the NRU 5-HT atlas, reflecting distinct spatial distributions of multiple serotonin targets. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) measured current stress over one week proximal to imaging. EMA stress did not differ between attempters and non-attempters. In all depressed participants, 5-HTT and 5-HT1A BPND were unrelated to EMA stress. There were region-specific effects of 5-HTT (p=0.002) and 5-HT1A BPND (p=0.03) in attempters vs. nonattempters. In attempters, region-specific associations between 5-HTT (p=0.03) and 5-HT1A (p=0.005) BPND and EMA stress emerged. While no post-hoc 5-HTT BPND correlations were significant, 5-HT1A BPND correlated positively with EMA stress in attempters in 9/10 regions (p-values<0.007), including the entire cortex except the largely occipital region 5. Brodmann-based regional analyses found diminished effects for 5-HTT and subcortically localized positive corrrelations between 5-HT1A and EMA stress, in attempters only. Given comparable depression severity and childhood and current stress between attempters and nonattempters, lower 5-HTT binding in attempters vs. nonattempters may suggest a biological risk marker. Localized lower 5-HTT and widespread higher 5-HT1A binding with stress among attempters specifically may suggest that a serotonergic phenotype might be a key determinant of risk or resiliency for suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bartlett
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.
| | - Francesca Zanderigo
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Barbara Stanley
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Tse-Hwei Choo
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Hanga C Galfalvy
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Spiro P Pantazatos
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Sublette
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Miller
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Maria A Oquendo
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J John Mann
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
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3
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Bartlett EA, Zanderigo F, Shieh D, Miller J, Hurley P, Rubin-Falcone H, Oquendo MA, Sublette ME, Ogden RT, Mann JJ. Serotonin transporter binding in major depressive disorder: impact of serotonin system anatomy. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3417-3424. [PMID: 35487966 PMCID: PMC9616969 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01578-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) binding deficits are reported in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, most studies have not considered serotonin system anatomy when parcellating brain regions of interest (ROIs). We now investigate 5-HTT binding in MDD in two novel ways: (1) use of a 5-HTT tract-based analysis examining binding along serotonergic axons; and (2) using the Copenhagen University Hospital Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU) 5-HT Atlas, based on brain-wide binding patterns of multiple serotonin receptor types. [11C]DASB 5-HTT PET scans were obtained in 60 unmedicated participants with MDD in a current depressive episode and 31 healthy volunteers (HVs). Binding potential (BPP) was quantified with empirical Bayesian estimation in graphical analysis (EBEGA). Within the [11C]DASB tract, the MDD group showed significantly lower BPP compared with HVs (p = 0.02). This BPP diagnosis difference also significantly varied by tract location (p = 0.02), with the strongest MDD binding deficit most proximal to brainstem raphe nuclei. NRU 5-HT Atlas ROIs showed a BPP diagnosis difference that varied by region (p < 0.001). BPP was lower in MDD in 3/10 regions (p-values < 0.05). Neither [11C]DASB tract or NRU 5-HT Atlas BPP correlated with depression severity, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt history, or antidepressant medication exposure. Future studies are needed to determine the causes of this deficit in 5-HTT binding being more pronounced in proximal axon segments and in only a subset of ROIs for the pathogenesis of MDD. Such regional specificity may have implications for targeting antidepressant treatment, and may extend to other serotonin-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Bartlett
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Francesca Zanderigo
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denise Shieh
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey Miller
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrick Hurley
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry Rubin-Falcone
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria A Oquendo
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Sublette
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - R Todd Ogden
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - J John Mann
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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4
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Heyman-Kantor R, Rizk M, Sublette ME, Rubin-Falcone H, Fard YY, Burke AK, Oquendo MA, Sullivan GM, Milak MS, Zanderigo F, Mann JJ, Miller JM. Examining the relationship between gray matter volume and a continuous measure of bipolarity in unmedicated unipolar and bipolar depression. J Affect Disord 2021; 280:105-113. [PMID: 33207282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been argued that unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) exist on a continuous spectrum, given their overlapping symptomatology and genetic diatheses. The Bipolarity Index (BI) is a scale that considers bipolarity as a continuous construct and was developed to assess confidence in bipolar diagnosis. Here we investigated whether BI scores correlate with gray matter volume (GMV) in a sample of unmedicated unipolar and bipolar depressed individuals. METHODS 158 subjects (139 with MDD, 19 with BD) in a major depressive episode at time of scan were assigned BI scores. T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans were obtained and processed with Voxel-Based Morphometry using SPM12 (CAT12 toolbox) to assess GMV. Regression was performed at the voxel level to identify clusters of voxels whose GMV was associated with BI score, (p<0.001, family-wise error-corrected cluster-level p<0.05), with age, sex and total intracranial volume as covariates. RESULTS GMV was inversely correlated with BI score in four clusters located in left lateral occipital cortex, bilateral angular gyri and right frontal pole. Clusters were no longer significant after controlling for diagnosis. GMV was not correlated with BI score within the MDD cohort alone. LIMITATIONS Incomplete clinical data required use of a modified BI scale. CONCLUSION BI scores were inversely correlated with GMV in unmedicated subjects with MDD and BD, but these correlations appeared driven by categorical diagnosis. Future work will examine other imaging modalities and focus on elements of the BI scale most likely to be related to brain structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Heyman-Kantor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Mina Rizk
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | - M Elizabeth Sublette
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | | | | | - Ainsley K Burke
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | - Maria A Oquendo
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Matthew S Milak
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | - Francesca Zanderigo
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | - J John Mann
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University
| | - Jeffrey M Miller
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University.
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5
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Vargas-Medrano J, Diaz-Pacheco V, Castaneda C, Miranda-Arango M, Longhurst MO, Martin SL, Ghumman U, Mangadu T, Chheda S, Thompson PM, Gadad BS. Psychological and neurobiological aspects of suicide in adolescents: Current outlooks. Brain Behav Immun Health 2020; 7:100124. [PMID: 32835300 PMCID: PMC7405877 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicidality is one of the leading causes of death among young adults in the United States and represents a significant health problem worldwide. The suicide rate among adolescents in the United States has increased dramatically in the latest years and has been accompanied by considerable changes in youth suicide, especially among young girls. Henceforth, we need a good understanding of the risk factors contributing to suicidal behavior in youth. An explanatory model for suicidal behavior that links clinical and psychological risk factors to the underlying neurobiological, neuropsychological abnormalities related to suicidal behavior might predict to help identify treatment options and have empirical value. Our explanatory model proposes that developmental, biological factors (genetics, proteomics, epigenetics, immunological) and psychological or clinical (childhood adversities) may have causal relevance to the changes associated with suicidal behavior. In this way, our model integrates findings from several perspectives in suicidality and attempts to explain the relationship between various neurobiological, genetic, and clinical observations in suicide research, offering a comprehensive hypothesis to facilitate understanding of this complex outcome. Unraveling the knowledge of the complex interplay of psychological, biological, sociobiological, and clinical risk factors is highly essential, concerning the development of effective prevention strategy plans for suicidal ideation and suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Vargas-Medrano
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, University of Texas, El Paso, USA
| | - Valeria Diaz-Pacheco
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, University of Texas, El Paso, USA
| | - Christopher Castaneda
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Manuel Miranda-Arango
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Melanie O Longhurst
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Sarah L. Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Usman Ghumman
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Thenral Mangadu
- Minority AIDS Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Sadhana Chheda
- Department of Pediatrics, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Peter M. Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, University of Texas, El Paso, USA
| | - Bharathi S. Gadad
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, 79905, University of Texas, El Paso, USA
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6
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Ananth M, Bartlett EA, DeLorenzo C, Lin X, Kunkel L, Vadhan NP, Perlman G, Godstrey M, Holzmacher D, Ogden RT, Parsey RV, Huang C. Prediction of lithium treatment response in bipolar depression using 5-HTT and 5-HT 1A PET. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2020; 47:2417-2428. [PMID: 32055965 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-04681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lithium, one of the few effective treatments for bipolar depression (BPD), has been hypothesized to work by enhancing serotonergic transmission. Despite preclinical evidence, it is unknown whether lithium acts via the serotonergic system. Here we examined the potential of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) or serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A) pre-treatment binding to predict lithium treatment response and remission. We hypothesized that lower pre-treatment 5-HTT and higher pre-treatment 5-HT1A binding would predict better clinical response. Additional analyses investigated group differences between BPD and healthy controls and the relationship between change in binding pre- to post-treatment and clinical response. Twenty-seven medication-free patients with BPD currently in a depressive episode received positron emission tomography (PET) scans using 5-HTT tracer [11C]DASB, a subset also received a PET scan using 5-HT1A tracer [11C]-CUMI-101 before and after 8 weeks of lithium monotherapy. Metabolite-corrected arterial input functions were used to estimate binding potential, proportional to receptor availability. Fourteen patients with BPD with both [11C]DASB and [11C]-CUMI-101 pre-treatment scans and 8 weeks of post-treatment clinical scores were included in the prediction analysis examining the potential of either pre-treatment 5-HTT or 5-HT1A or the combination of both to predict post-treatment clinical scores. RESULTS We found lower pre-treatment 5-HTT binding (p = 0.003) and lower 5-HT1A binding (p = 0.035) were both significantly associated with improved clinical response. Pre-treatment 5-HTT predicted remission with 71% accuracy (77% specificity, 60% sensitivity), while 5-HT1A binding was able to predict remission with 85% accuracy (87% sensitivity, 80% specificity). The combined prediction analysis using both 5-HTT and 5-HT1A was able to predict remission with 84.6% accuracy (87.5% specificity, 60% sensitivity). Additional analyses BPD and controls pre- or post-treatment, and the change in binding were not significant and unrelated to treatment response (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that while lithium may not act directly via 5-HTT or 5-HT1A to ameliorate depressive symptoms, pre-treatment binding may be a potential biomarker for successful treatment of BPD with lithium. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION PET and MRI Brain Imaging of Bipolar Disorder Identifier: NCT01880957; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01880957.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mala Ananth
- Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
| | | | - Christine DeLorenzo
- Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Xuejing Lin
- Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Kunkel
- Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Nehal P Vadhan
- Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Greg Perlman
- Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | | | - R Todd Ogden
- Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ramin V Parsey
- Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Radiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Chuan Huang
- Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Radiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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7
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Schmaal L, van Harmelen AL, Chatzi V, Lippard ETC, Toenders YJ, Averill LA, Mazure CM, Blumberg HP. Imaging suicidal thoughts and behaviors: a comprehensive review of 2 decades of neuroimaging studies. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:408-427. [PMID: 31787757 PMCID: PMC6974434 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0587-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Identifying brain alterations that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are important to develop more targeted and effective strategies to prevent suicide. In the last decade, and especially in the last 5 years, there has been exponential growth in the number of neuroimaging studies reporting structural and functional brain circuitry correlates of STBs. Within this narrative review, we conducted a comprehensive review of neuroimaging studies of STBs published to date and summarize the progress achieved on elucidating neurobiological substrates of STBs, with a focus on converging findings across studies. We review neuroimaging evidence across differing mental disorders for structural, functional, and molecular alterations in association with STBs, which converges particularly in regions of brain systems that subserve emotion and impulse regulation including the ventral prefrontal cortex (VPFC) and dorsal PFC (DPFC), insula and their mesial temporal, striatal and posterior connection sites, as well as in the connections between these brain areas. The reviewed literature suggests that impairments in medial and lateral VPFC regions and their connections may be important in the excessive negative and blunted positive internal states that can stimulate suicidal ideation, and that impairments in a DPFC and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) system may be important in suicide attempt behaviors. A combination of VPFC and DPFC system disturbances may lead to very high risk circumstances in which suicidal ideation is converted to lethal actions via decreased top-down inhibition of behavior and/or maladaptive, inflexible decision-making and planning. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula may play important roles in switching between these VPFC and DPFC systems, which may contribute to the transition from suicide thoughts to behaviors. Future neuroimaging research of larger sample sizes, including global efforts, longitudinal designs, and careful consideration of developmental stages, and sex and gender, will facilitate more effectively targeted preventions and interventions to reduce loss of life to suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne Schmaal
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Vasiliki Chatzi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yara J Toenders
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lynnette A Averill
- Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carolyn M Mazure
- Psychiatry and Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hilary P Blumberg
- Psychiatry, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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8
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Gopaldas M, Zanderigo F, Zhan S, Ogden RT, Miller JM, Rubin-Falcone H, Cooper TB, Oquendo MA, Sullivan G, Mann JJ, Sublette ME. Brain serotonin transporter binding, plasma arachidonic acid and depression severity: A positron emission tomography study of major depression. J Affect Disord 2019; 257:495-503. [PMID: 31319341 PMCID: PMC6886679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) binding and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Links between the two systems in animal models have not been investigated in humans. METHODS Using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]DASB, we studied relationships between 5-HTT binding potential and plasma levels of PUFAs docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (AA) in medication-free MDD patients (n = 21). PUFAs were quantified using transesterification and gas chromatography. Binding potential BPP, and alternative outcome measures BPF and BPND, were determined for [11C]DASB in six a priori brain regions of interest (ROIs) using likelihood estimation in graphical analysis (LEGA) to calculate radioligand total distribution volume (VT), and a validated hybrid deconvolution approach (HYDECA) that estimates radioligand non-displaceable distribution volume (VND) without a reference region. Linear mixed models used PUFA levels as predictors and binding potential measures as outcomes across the specified ROIs; age and sex as fixed effects; and subject as random effect to account for across-region binding correlations. As nonlinear relationships were observed, a quadratic term was added to final models. RESULTS AA predicted both 5-HTT BPP and depression severity nonlinearly, described by an inverted U-shaped curve. 5-HTT binding potential mediated the relationship between AA and depression severity. LIMITATIONS Given the small sample and multiple comparisons, results require replication. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that AA status may impact depression pathophysiology through effects on serotonin transport. Future studies should examine whether these relationships explain therapeutic effects of PUFAs in the treatment of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manesh Gopaldas
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Francesca Zanderigo
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serena Zhan
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - R. Todd Ogden
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Jeffrey M. Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry Rubin-Falcone
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas B. Cooper
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Maria A. Oquendo
- Psychiatry Department, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - J. John Mann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - M. Elizabeth Sublette
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA,Molecular Imaging & Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 42, New York, NY 10032, Tel: 646 774-7514, Fax: 646 774-7589,
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9
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Kato T. Current understanding of bipolar disorder: Toward integration of biological basis and treatment strategies. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:526-540. [PMID: 31021488 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Biological studies of bipolar disorder initially focused on the mechanism of action for antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, and the roles of monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) have been extensively studied. Thereafter, based on the mechanism of action of lithium, intracellular signal transduction systems, including inositol metabolism and intracellular calcium signaling, have drawn attention. Involvement of intracellular calcium signaling has been supported by genetics and cellular studies. Elucidation of the neural circuits affected by calcium signaling abnormalities is critical, and our previous study suggested a role of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. The genetic vulnerability of mitochondria causes calcium dysregulation and results in the hyperexcitability of serotonergic neurons, which are suggested to be susceptible to oxidative stress. Efficacy of anticonvulsants, animal studies of candidate genes, and studies using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons have suggested a relation between bipolar disorder and the hyperexcitability of neurons. Recent genetic findings suggest the roles of polyunsaturated acids. At the systems level, social rhythm therapy targets circadian rhythm abnormalities, and cognitive behavioral therapy may target emotion/cognition (E/C) imbalance. In the future, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments may be combined and optimized based on the biological basis of each patient, which will realize individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
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10
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Nørgaard M, Ganz M, Svarer C, Feng L, Ichise M, Lanzenberger R, Lubberink M, Parsey RV, Politis M, Rabiner EA, Slifstein M, Sossi V, Suhara T, Talbot PS, Turkheimer F, Strother SC, Knudsen GM. Cerebral serotonin transporter measurements with [ 11C]DASB: A review on acquisition and preprocessing across 21 PET centres. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2019; 39:210-222. [PMID: 29651896 PMCID: PMC6365604 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x18770107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging has become a prominent tool to capture the spatiotemporal distribution of neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain. The outcome of a PET study can, however, potentially be obscured by suboptimal and/or inconsistent choices made in complex processing pipelines required to reach a quantitative estimate of radioligand binding. Variations in subject selection, experimental design, data acquisition, preprocessing, and statistical analysis may lead to different outcomes and neurobiological interpretations. We here review the approaches used in 105 original research articles published by 21 different PET centres, using the tracer [11C]DASB for quantification of cerebral serotonin transporter binding, as an exemplary case. We highlight and quantify the impact of the remarkable variety of ways in which researchers are currently conducting their studies, while implicitly expecting generalizable results across research groups. Our review provides evidence that the foundation for a given choice of a preprocessing pipeline seems to be an overlooked aspect in modern PET neuroscience. Furthermore, we believe that a thorough testing of pipeline performance is necessary to produce reproducible research outcomes, avoiding biased results and allowing for better understanding of human brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Nørgaard
- 1 Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,2 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Melanie Ganz
- 1 Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,3 Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Svarer
- 1 Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ling Feng
- 1 Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Masanori Ichise
- 4 Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- 5 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Lubberink
- 6 Department of Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ramin V Parsey
- 7 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Marios Politis
- 8 Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eugenii A Rabiner
- 9 Imanova Limited, London, UK.,10 Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Slifstein
- 7 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Vesna Sossi
- 11 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tetsuya Suhara
- 4 Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Peter S Talbot
- 12 Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Stephen C Strother
- 14 Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- 1 Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,2 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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11
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Abstract
One application of positron emission tomography (PET), a nuclear imaging technique, in neuroscience involves in vivo estimation of the density of various proteins (often, neuroreceptors) in the brain. PET scanning begins with the injection of a radiolabeled tracer that binds preferentially to the target protein; tracer molecules are then continuously delivered to the brain via the bloodstream. By detecting the radioactive decay of the tracer over time, dynamic PET data are constructed to reflect the concentration of the target protein in the brain at each time. The fundamental problem in the analysis of dynamic PET data involves estimating the impulse response function (IRF), which is necessary for describing the binding behavior of the injected radiotracer. Virtually all existing methods have three common aspects: summarizing the entire IRF with a single scalar measure; modeling each subject separately; and the imposition of parametric restrictions on the IRF. In contrast, we propose a functional data analytic approach that regards each subject's IRF as the basic analysis unit, models multiple subjects simultaneously, and estimates the IRF nonparametrically. We pose our model as a linear mixed effect model in which population level fixed effects and subject-specific random effects are expanded using a B-spline basis. Shrinkage and roughness penalties are incorporated in the model to enforce identifiability and smoothness of the estimated curves, respectively, while monotonicity and non-negativity constraints impose biological information on estimates. We illustrate this approach by applying it to clinical PET data with subjects belonging to three diagnosic groups. We explore differences among groups by means of pointwise confidence intervals of the estimated mean curves based on bootstrap samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeff Goldsmith
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - R Todd Ogden
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
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12
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Molecular imaging of serotonin degeneration in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 105:33-41. [PMID: 28511918 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathological and neuroimaging studies have consistently demonstrated degeneration of monoamine systems, especially the serotonin system, in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. The evidence for degeneration of the serotonin system in mild cognitive impairment is limited. Thus, the goal of the present study was to measure the serotonin transporter in vivo in mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls. The serotonin transporter is a selective marker of serotonin terminals and of the integrity of serotonin projections to cortical, subcortical and limbic regions and is found in high concentrations in the serotonergic cell bodies of origin of these projections (raphe nuclei). Twenty-eight participants with mild cognitive impairment (age 66.6±6.9, 16 males) and 28 healthy, cognitively normal, demographically matched controls (age 66.2±7.1, 15 males) underwent magnetic resonance imaging for measurement of grey matter volumes and high-resolution positron emission tomography with well-established radiotracers for the serotonin transporter and regional cerebral blood flow. Beta-amyloid imaging was performed to evaluate, in combination with the neuropsychological testing, the likelihood of subsequent cognitive decline in the participants with mild cognitive impairment. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) the serotonin transporter would be lower in mild cognitive impairment compared to controls in cortical and limbic regions, 2) in mild cognitive impairment relative to controls, the serotonin transporter would be lower to a greater extent and observed in a more widespread pattern than lower grey matter volumes or lower regional cerebral blood flow and 3) lower cortical and limbic serotonin transporters would be correlated with greater deficits in auditory-verbal and visual-spatial memory in mild cognitive impairment, not in controls. Reduced serotonin transporter availability was observed in mild cognitive impairment compared to controls in cortical and limbic areas typically affected by Alzheimer's disease pathology, as well as in sensory and motor areas, striatum and thalamus that are relatively spared in Alzheimer's disease. The reduction of the serotonin transporter in mild cognitive impairment was greater than grey matter atrophy or reductions in regional cerebral blood flow compared to controls. Lower cortical serotonin transporters were associated with worse performance on tests of auditory-verbal and visual-spatial memory in mild cognitive impairment, not in controls. The serotonin system may represent an important target for prevention and treatment of MCI, particularly the post-synaptic receptors (5-HT4 and 5-HT6), which may not be as severely affected as presynaptic aspects of the serotonin system, as indicated by the observation of lower serotonin transporters in MCI relative to healthy controls.
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13
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Davis MT, Holmes SE, Pietrzak RH, Esterlis I. Neurobiology of Chronic Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders: Evidence from Molecular Imaging Studies. CHRONIC STRESS (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2017; 1:2470547017710916. [PMID: 29862379 PMCID: PMC5976254 DOI: 10.1177/2470547017710916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress accounts for billions of dollars of economic loss annually in the United States alone, and is recognized as a major source of disability and mortality worldwide. Robust evidence suggests that chronic stress plays a significant role in the onset of severe and impairing psychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Application of molecular imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography in recent years has begun to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which chronic stress confers risk for these disorders. The present paper provides a comprehensive review and synthesis of all positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography imaging publications focused on the examination of molecular targets in individuals with major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or bipolar disorder to date. Critical discussion of discrepant findings and broad strengths and weaknesses of the current body of literature is provided. Recommended future directions for the field of molecular imaging to further elucidate the neurobiological substrates of chronic stress-related disorders are also discussed. This article is part of the inaugural issue for the journal focused on various aspects of chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret T. Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of
Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical
Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sophie E. Holmes
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of
Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical
Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert H. Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of
Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical
Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs National
Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT,
USA
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of
Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical
Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs National
Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT,
USA
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