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Fakih N, Fakhoury M. Alzheimer Disease-Link With Major Depressive Disorder and Efficacy of Antidepressants in Modifying its Trajectory. J Psychiatr Pract 2024; 30:181-191. [PMID: 38819242 DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide, with no effective cure. The main symptoms include learning and memory loss, and the inability to carry out the simplest tasks, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Over the past few years, tremendous progress has been made in research demonstrating a link between AD and major depressive disorder (MDD). Evidence suggests that MDD is commonly associated with AD and that it can serve as a precipitating factor for this disease. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are the first line of treatment for MDD, have shown great promise in the treatment of depression in AD, although their effectiveness remains controversial. The goal of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the association between AD, MDD, and antidepressant treatment. It first provides an overview of the interaction between AD and MDD at the level of genes, brain regions, neurotransmitter systems, and neuroinflammatory markers. The review then presents current evidence regarding the effectiveness of various antidepressants for AD-related pathophysiology and then finally discusses current limitations, challenges, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Fakih
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
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2
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Chang Z, Liu L, Lin L, Wang G, Zhang C, Tian H, Liu W, Wang L, Zhang B, Ren J, Zhang Y, Xie Y, Du X, Wei X, Wei L, Luo Y, Dong H, Li X, Zhao Z, Liang M, Zhang C, Wang X, Yu C, Qin W, Liu H. Selective disrupted gray matter volume covariance of amygdala subregions in schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1349989. [PMID: 38742128 PMCID: PMC11090100 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1349989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Although extensive structural and functional abnormalities have been reported in schizophrenia, the gray matter volume (GMV) covariance of the amygdala remain unknown. The amygdala contains several subregions with different connection patterns and functions, but it is unclear whether the GMV covariance of these subregions are selectively affected in schizophrenia. Methods To address this issue, we compared the GMV covariance of each amygdala subregion between 807 schizophrenia patients and 845 healthy controls from 11 centers. The amygdala was segmented into nine subregions using FreeSurfer (v7.1.1), including the lateral (La), basal (Ba), accessory-basal (AB), anterior-amygdaloid-area (AAA), central (Ce), medial (Me), cortical (Co), corticoamygdaloid-transition (CAT), and paralaminar (PL) nucleus. We developed an operational combat harmonization model for 11 centers, subsequently employing a voxel-wise general linear model to investigate the differences in GMV covariance between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls across these subregions and the entire brain, while adjusting for age, sex and TIV. Results Our findings revealed that five amygdala subregions of schizophrenia patients, including bilateral AAA, CAT, and right Ba, demonstrated significantly increased GMV covariance with the hippocampus, striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, and so on (permutation test, P< 0.05, corrected). These findings could be replicated in most centers. Rigorous correlation analysis failed to identify relationships between the altered GMV covariance with positive and negative symptom scale, duration of illness, and antipsychotic medication measure. Conclusion Our research is the first to discover selectively impaired GMV covariance patterns of amygdala subregion in a large multicenter sample size of patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyu Chang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Liyuan Lin
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, The Ninth Clinical School, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Psychopharmacology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, The Fourth Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juanjuan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Psychopharmacology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingying Xie
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaotong Du
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaotong Wei
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Luli Wei
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yun Luo
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoyang Dong
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Congpei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xijin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Chunshui Yu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Huaigui Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Chen Y, Xia X, Zhou Z, Yuan M, Peng Y, Liu Y, Tang J, Fu Y. Interleukin-6 is correlated with amygdala volume and depression severity in adolescents and young adults with first-episode major depressive disorder. Brain Imaging Behav 2024:10.1007/s11682-024-00871-0. [PMID: 38467915 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-024-00871-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory mechanisms may play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), and cytokine concentrations are correlated with brain alterations. Adolescents and young adults with MDD have higher recurrence and suicide rates than adults, but there has been limited research on the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential correlations among cytokines, depression severity, and the volumes of the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens in Han Chinese adolescents and young adults with first-episode MDD. Nineteen patients with MDD aged 10-21 years were enrolled from the Psychiatry Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, along with 18 age-matched healthy controls from a local school. We measured the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the peripheral blood, along with the volumes of the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging. We observed that patients with MDD had higher concentrations of IL-6 and a trend towards reduced left amygdala and bilateral hippocampus volumes than healthy controls. Additionally, the concentration of IL-6 was correlated with the left amygdala volume and depression severity, while the left hippocampus volume was correlated with depression severity. This study suggests that inflammation is an underlying neurobiological change and implies that IL-6 could serve as a potential biomarker for identifying early stage MDD in adolescents and young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiaodi Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zheyi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yadong Peng
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jinxiang Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yixiao Fu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Jiang Y. A theory of the neural mechanisms underlying negative cognitive bias in major depression. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1348474. [PMID: 38532986 PMCID: PMC10963437 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1348474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The widely acknowledged cognitive theory of depression, developed by Aaron Beck, focused on biased information processing that emphasizes the negative aspects of affective and conceptual information. Current attempts to discover the neurological mechanism underlying such cognitive and affective bias have successfully identified various brain regions associated with severally biased functions such as emotion, attention, rumination, and inhibition control. However, the neurobiological mechanisms of how individuals in depression develop this selective processing toward negative is still under question. This paper introduces a neurological framework centered around the frontal-limbic circuit, specifically analyzing and synthesizing the activity and functional connectivity within the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex. Firstly, a possible explanation of how the positive feedback loop contributes to the persistent hyperactivity of the amygdala in depression at an automatic level is established. Building upon this, two hypotheses are presented: hypothesis 1 revolves around the bidirectional amygdalohippocampal projection facilitating the amplification of negative emotions and memories while concurrently contributing to the impediment of the retrieval of opposing information in the hippocampus attractor network. Hypothesis 2 highlights the involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the establishment of a negative cognitive framework through the generalization of conceptual and emotional information in conjunction with the amygdala and hippocampus. The primary objective of this study is to improve and complement existing pathological models of depression, pushing the frontiers of current understanding in neuroscience of affective disorders, and eventually contributing to successful recovery from the debilitating affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyue Jiang
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
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5
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Chu Z, Yuan L, Lian K, He M, Lu Y, Cheng Y, Xu X, Shen Z. Reduced gray matter volume of the hippocampal tail in melancholic depression: evidence from an MRI study. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:183. [PMID: 38443878 PMCID: PMC10913289 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05630-5] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melancholic depression (MD) is one of the most prevalent and severe subtypes of major depressive disorder (MDD). Previous studies have revealed inconsistent results regarding alterations in grey matter volume (GMV) of the hippocampus and amygdala of MD patients, possibly due to overlooking the complexity of their internal structure. The hippocampus and amygdala consist of multiple and functionally distinct subregions, and these subregions may play different roles in MD. This study aims to investigate the volumetric alterations of each subregion of the hippocampus and amygdala in patients with MD and non-melancholic depression (NMD). METHODS A total of 146 drug-naïve, first-episode MDD patients (72 with MD and 74 with NMD) and 81 gender-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The subregional segmentation of hippocampus and amygdala was performed using the FreeSurfer 6.0 software. The multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to detect GMV differences of the hippocampal and amygdala subregions between three groups. Partial correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between hippocampus or amygdala subfields and clinical characteristics in the MD group. Age, gender, years of education and intracranial volume (ICV) were included as covariates in both MANCOVA and partial correlation analyses. RESULTS Patients with MD exhibited a significantly lower GMV of the right hippocampal tail compared to HCs, which was uncorrelated with clinical characteristics of MD. No significant differences were observed among the three groups in overall and subregional GMV of amygdala. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that specific hippocampal subregions in MD patients are more susceptible to volumetric alterations than the entire hippocampus. The reduced right hippocampal tail may underlie the unique neuropathology of MD. Future longitudinal studies are required to better investigate the associations between reduced right hippocampal tail and the onset and progression of MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaosong Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Lijin Yuan
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Kun Lian
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Mengxin He
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China
| | - Xiufeng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China.
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China.
| | - Zonglin Shen
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032, Kunming, China.
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, 650032, Kunming, China.
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Chen S, Yin Y, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Hou Z, Yuan Y. Childhood abuse influences clinical features of major depressive disorder by modulating the functional network of the right amygdala subregions. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 93:103946. [PMID: 38330856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.103946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Childhood trauma and the amygdala play essential roles in major depressive disorder (MDD) mechanisms. However, the neurobiological mechanism among them remains unclear. Therefore, we explored the relationship among the amygdala subregion's abnormal functional connectivity (FC), clinical features, and childhood trauma in MDD. We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 115 MDD patients and 91 well-matched healthy controls (HC). Amygdala subregions were defined according to the Human Brainnetome Atlas. The case vs. control difference in FCs was extracted. After controlling for age, sex, and education years, the mediations between the detected abnormal FCs and clinical features were analyzed, including the onset age of MDD and the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 (HAMD-24) reductive rate. Compared with HC subjects, we found, only the right amygdala subregions, namely the right medial amygdala (mAmyg.R) and the right lateral amygdala (lAmyg.R), showed a significant decrease in whole-brain FCs in MDD patients. Only childhood abuse experiences were significantly associated with amygdala subregion connectivity and clinical features in MDD patients. Additionally, The FCs between the mAmyg.R and extensive frontal, temporal, and subcortical regions mediated between the early life abuses and disease onset or treatment outcome. The findings indicate that the abnormal connectivity of the right amygdala subregions is involved in MDD's pathogenesis and clinical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzhen Chen
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingying Yin
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqun Zhang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhao Jiang
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenghua Hou
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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Cardoner N, Andero R, Cano M, Marin-Blasco I, Porta-Casteràs D, Serra-Blasco M, Via E, Vicent-Gil M, Portella MJ. Impact of Stress on Brain Morphology: Insights into Structural Biomarkers of Stress-related Disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:935-962. [PMID: 37403395 PMCID: PMC10845094 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230703091435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to acute and chronic stress has a broad range of structural effects on the brain. The brain areas commonly targeted in the stress response models include the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. Studies in patients suffering from the so-called stress-related disorders -embracing post-traumatic stress, major depressive and anxiety disorders- have fairly replicated animal models of stress response -particularly the neuroendocrine and the inflammatory models- by finding alterations in different brain areas, even in the early neurodevelopment. Therefore, this narrative review aims to provide an overview of structural neuroimaging findings and to discuss how these studies have contributed to our knowledge of variability in response to stress and the ulterior development of stress-related disorders. There are a gross number of studies available but neuroimaging research of stress-related disorders as a single category is still in its infancy. Although the available studies point at particular brain circuitries involved in stress and emotion regulation, the pathophysiology of these abnormalities -involving genetics, epigenetics and molecular pathways-, their relation to intraindividual stress responses -including personality characteristics, self-perception of stress conditions…-, and their potential involvement as biomarkers in diagnosis, treatment prescription and prognosis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narcís Cardoner
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Raül Andero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Cano
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Marin-Blasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Porta-Casteràs
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Maria Serra-Blasco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Programa eHealth ICOnnecta't, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Via
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Muriel Vicent-Gil
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria J. Portella
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine Bellaterra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Wang R, Kogler L, Derntl B. Sex differences in cortisol levels in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 72:101118. [PMID: 38176541 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Higher prevalence of depression in females might be associated with sex-specific cortisol levels. Evidence exists that cortisol levels differ between healthy females and males, however a sex-specific association in depression has not been systematically assessed. Thus, the current study quantifies the existing literature on different cortisol parameters, i.e., basal cortisol, hair cortisol, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and cortisol stress reactivity comparing depressed females and males as well as sex-specific comparisons with healthy controls. Following an extensive literature research, fifty original articles were included. Depressed females had significantly higher hair cortisol, higher CAR, and lower cortisol stress reactivity compared to depressed males. In comparison with sex-matched controls, female patients had significantly higher evening basal cortisol, higher CAR and lower cortisol stress reactivity, and male patients had significantly higher general, morning and evening basal cortisol. Overall, sex as a fundamental driver of cortisol levels in depression needs to be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Graduate School and Research Network, University of Tübingen, Germany
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9
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Liang J, Yu Q, Liu Y, Qiu Y, Tang R, Yan L, Zhou P. Gray matter abnormalities in patients with major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder: a voxel-based meta-analysis. Brain Imaging Behav 2023; 17:749-763. [PMID: 37725323 PMCID: PMC10733224 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive and social anxiety disorders have a high comorbidity rate and similar cognitive patterns. However, their unique and shared neuroanatomical characteristics have not been fully identified. METHODS Voxel-based morphometric studies comparing gray matter volume between patients with major depressive disorder/social anxiety disorder and healthy controls were searched using 4 electronic databases from the inception to March 2022. Stereotactic data were extracted and subsequently tested for convergence and differences using activation likelihood estimation. In addition, based on the result of the meta-analysis, behavioral analysis was performed to assess the functional roles of the regions affected by major depressive disorder and/or social anxiety disorder. RESULTS In total, 34 studies on major depressive disorder with 2873 participants, and 10 studies on social anxiety disorder with 1004 subjects were included. Gray matter volume conjunction analysis showed that the right parahippocampal gyrus region, especially the amygdala, was smaller in patients compared to healthy controls. The contrast analysis of major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder revealed lower gray matter volume in the right lentiform nucleus and medial frontal gyrus in social anxiety disorder and lower gray matter volume in the left parahippocampal gyrus in major depressive disorder. Behavioral analysis showed that regions with lower gray matter volume in social anxiety disorder are strongly associated with negative emotional processes. CONCLUSIONS The shared and unique patterns of gray matter volume abnormalities in patients with major depressive and social anxiety disorder may be linked to the underlying neuropathogenesis of these mental illnesses and provide potential biomarkers. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021277546.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junquan Liang
- Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Seventh Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoyun Yu
- Jingzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Shenzhen Luohu District Hospital of TCM, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yidan Qiu
- Centre for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Rundong Tang
- Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Seventh Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
| | - Luda Yan
- Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Seventh Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Zhou
- Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Seventh Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518101, Guangdong, China.
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10
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Nakhid D, Patel D, McMorris CA, Gibbard WB, Tortorelli C, Pei J, Lebel C. Limbic brain subregions associated with mental health symptoms in youth with and without prenatal alcohol exposure. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:2033-2044. [PMID: 38226747 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in reduced brain volume and an increased risk of mental health challenges. Limbic brain structures such as the hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala often exhibit smaller volumes in youth with PAE, and similar volume reductions are observed in unexposed youth with symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia. However, the role of volume reductions in these brain regions in mental health challenges remains unclear for individuals with PAE. METHODS Thirty-four youth with PAE and 72 unexposed youth aged 7-16 years completed a T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scan. FreeSurfer was used to process and extract volumes for hippocampal subfields, thalamic subnuclei, and amygdalar subnuclei. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-2/3-PRS), the Children's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. We tested whether limbic subregion volumes differed between youth with and those without PAE and whether volumes were associated with depression and/or anxiety symptoms, controlling for age and gender. RESULTS Multiple hippocampal and thalamic subregions, but not amygdalar subnuclei, were smaller in individuals with PAE. Multiple group-brain interactions were observed for depression symptoms and subregion volumes. Negative associations between anxiety and limbic subregions were observed across groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings show extensive volume reductions in the hippocampus and thalamus in youth with PAE. PAE also appears to disrupt the association between depression symptoms and limbic subregions in youth, which may have implications for interventions in these individuals. Anxiety symptoms in youth with and without PAE are similarly associated with limbic volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Nakhid
- Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Darpal Patel
- Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carly A McMorris
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Werklund School of Education, School and Applied Child Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - W Ben Gibbard
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christina Tortorelli
- Department of Child Studies and Social Work, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Pei
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Kirstein CF, Güntürkün O, Ocklenburg S. Ultra-high field imaging of the amygdala - A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105245. [PMID: 37230235 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is an evolutionarily conserved core structure in emotion processing and one of the key regions of interest in affective neuroscience. Results of neuroimaging studies focusing on the amygdala are, however, often heterogeneous since it is composed of functionally and neuroanatomically distinct subnuclei. Fortunately, ultra-high-field imaging offers several advances for amygdala research, most importantly more accurate representation of functional and structural properties of subnuclei and their connectivity. Most clinical studies using ultra-high-field imaging focused on major depression, suggesting either overall rightward amygdala atrophy or distinct bilateral patterns of subnuclear atrophy and hypertrophy. Other pathologies are only sparsely covered. Connectivity analyses identified widespread networks for learning and memory, stimulus processing, cognition, and social processes. They provide evidence for distinct roles of the central, basal, and basolateral nucleus, and the extended amygdala in fear and emotion processing. Amid largely sparse and ambiguous evidence, we propose theoretical and methodological considerations that will guide ultra-high-field imaging in comprehensive investigations to help disentangle the ambiguity of the amygdala's function, structure, connectivity, and clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Fabian Kirstein
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany
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12
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Nasrullah N, Kerr WT, Stern JM, Wang Y, Tatekawa H, Lee JK, Karimi AH, Sreenivasan SS, Engel J, Eliashiv DE, Feusner JD, Salamon N, Savic I. Amygdala subfield and prefrontal cortex abnormalities in patients with functional seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 145:109278. [PMID: 37356226 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional seizures (FS) are paroxysmal episodes, resembling epileptic seizures, but without underlying epileptic abnormality. The aetiology and neuroanatomic associations are incompletely understood. Recent brain imaging data indicate cerebral changes, however, without clarifying possible pathophysiology. In the present study, we specifically investigated the neuroanatomic changes in subregions of the amygdala and hippocampus in FS. METHODS T1 MRI scans of 37 female patients with FS and 37 age-matched female seizure naïve controls (SNC) were analyzed retrospectively in FreeSurfer version 7.1. Seizure naïve controls included patients with depression and anxiety disorders. The analysis included whole-brain cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, and subfields of the amygdala and hippocampus. Group comparisons were carried out using multivariable linear models. RESULTS The FS and SNC groups did not differ in the whole hippocampus and amygdala volumes. However, patients had a significant reduction of the right lateral amygdala volume (p = 0.00041), an increase of the right central amygdala, (p = 0.037), and thinning of the left superior frontal gyrus (p = 0.024). Additional findings in patients were increased volumes of the right medial amygdala (p = 0.031), left anterior amygdala (p = 0.017), and left dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS The observations from the amygdala and hippocampus segmentation affirm that there are neuroanatomic associations of FS. The pattern of these changes aligned with some of the cerebral changes described in chronic stress conditions and depression. The pattern of detected changes further study, and may, after validation, provide biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilab Nasrullah
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Neurology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wesley T Kerr
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John M Stern
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yanlu Wang
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hiroyuki Tatekawa
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John K Lee
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amir H Karimi
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Siddhika S Sreenivasan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jerome Engel
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dawn E Eliashiv
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jamie D Feusner
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Noriko Salamon
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ivanka Savic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Neurology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Chen CW, Chou YH, Liou YJ, Yang KC, Hu LY, Hsieh WC, Liu MN. Amygdala substructure volumes and serotonin transporter in first-episode, drug- naïve major depressive disorder: A pilot study. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 160:210-216. [PMID: 36857985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amygdala and serotonergic system abnormalities have been documented in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, most studies have been conducted on recurrent MDD, and only a few have assessed their interaction. This study aimed to concurrently examine both the amygdala and serotonergic systems and their clinical relevance in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. METHODS This study included 27 patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs). The amygdala substructure volumes were performed with Freesurfer from a 1.5 T magnetic resonance image. Serotonin transporter (SERT) availability was detected by single-photon emission computed tomography with 123I-ADAM. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was applied to adjust for multiple comparisons. RESULTS No significant difference was found in the amygdala substructure volume and SERT availability between the two groups, respectively. Within MDD patients, the right medial, cortical nucleus, and centromedial volumes were positively associated with caudate SERT availability, respectively. Moreover, the right lateral nucleus volume in the amygdala was positively correlated with depression severity. However, these significances did not survive correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS There were no significant abnormalities in the amygdala substructure volumes and SERT availability in patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. We did not observe an association between amygdala substructure volume and serotonergic dysregulation and their correlations with depression severity in patients with MDD. A larger sample size is warranted to elucidate the actual correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Wen Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, 813414, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung, 90741, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Hwa Chou
- Center for Quality Management, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Jay Liou
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Chun Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yu Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Hsieh
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan
| | - Mu-N Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
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14
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Holmes SE, Abdallah C, Esterlis I. Imaging synaptic density in depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:186-190. [PMID: 35768568 PMCID: PMC9700860 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01368-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is a prevalent and heterogeneous disorder with treatment resistance in at least 50% of individuals. Most of the initial studies focused on the monoamine system; however, recently other mechanisms have come under investigation. Specific to the current issue, studies show synaptic involvement in depression. Other articles in this issue report on reductions in synaptic density, dendritic spines, boutons and glia associated with stress and depression. Importantly, it appears that some drugs (e.g., ketamine) may lead to rapid synaptic restoration or synaptogenesis. Direct evidence for this comes from preclinical work. However, neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), have become useful in assessing these changes in vivo. Here, we describe the use of neuroimaging techniques in the evaluation of synaptic alterations associated with depression in humans, as well as measurement of synaptic restoration after administration of ketamine. Although more research is desired, use of these techniques widen our understanding of depression and move us further along the path to targeted and effective treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E Holmes
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chadi Abdallah
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- National Center for PTSD, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- National Center for PTSD, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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15
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Zhang L, Hu X, Hu Y, Tang M, Qiu H, Zhu Z, Gao Y, Li H, Kuang W, Ji W. Structural covariance network of the hippocampus-amygdala complex in medication-naïve patients with first-episode major depressive disorder. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2022; 2:190-198. [PMID: 38665275 PMCID: PMC10917195 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background The hippocampus and amygdala are densely interconnected structures that work together in multiple affective and cognitive processes that are important to the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Each of these structures consists of several heterogeneous subfields. We aim to explore the topologic properties of the volume-based intrinsic network within the hippocampus-amygdala complex in medication-naïve patients with first-episode MDD. Methods High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 123 first-episode, medication-naïve, and noncomorbid MDD patients and 81 age-, sex-, and education level-matched healthy control participants (HCs). The structural covariance network (SCN) was constructed for each group using the volumes of the hippocampal subfields and amygdala subregions; the weights of the edges were defined by the partial correlation coefficients between each pair of subfields/subregions, controlled for age, sex, education level, and intracranial volume. The global and nodal graph metrics were calculated and compared between groups. Results Compared with HCs, the SCN within the hippocampus-amygdala complex in patients with MDD showed a shortened mean characteristic path length, reduced modularity, and reduced small-worldness index. At the nodal level, the left hippocampal tail showed increased measures of centrality, segregation, and integration, while nodes in the left amygdala showed decreased measures of centrality, segregation, and integration in patients with MDD compared with HCs. Conclusion Our results provide the first evidence of atypical topologic characteristics within the hippocampus-amygdala complex in patients with MDD using structure network analysis. It provides more delineate mechanism of those two structures that underlying neuropathologic process in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianqing Zhang
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Xinyue Hu
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Yongbo Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Mengyue Tang
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Hui Qiu
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Ziyu Zhu
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Yingxue Gao
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Hailong Li
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Weihong Kuang
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Weidong Ji
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science and Affiliated Mental Health Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200335, China
- Child Psychiatry, Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200335, China
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16
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Okamoto N, Watanabe K, Tesen H, Ikenouchi A, Igata R, Konishi Y, Natsuyama T, Fujii R, Kakeda S, Kishi T, Iwata N, Yoshimura R. Volume of Amygdala Subregions and Plasma Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cortisol in Patients with s/s Genotype of Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism of First-Episode and Drug-Naive Major Depressive Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Neurol Int 2022; 14:378-390. [PMID: 35466212 PMCID: PMC9036263 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint14020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is a prominent region of the brain that plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). The amygdala is formed from a collection of interconnected substructures (nuclei) that relay signals from multiple brain areas, which suggests that the amygdala has different functions depending on its subregion. There are two main alleles of serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR): a 44-bp insertion (l-allele) or deletion (s-allele). The transcriptional activity of the l-allele of the gene is twice that of the s-allele. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the volume of the whole amygdala and subregions of the amygdala in 25 first-episode and drug-naive patients with MDD and 46 healthy controls (HCs) with the s/s genotype of 5-HTTLPR and plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or cortisol. No significant difference was observed in the amygdala total and subregion volumes between the HC and MDD groups. No significant difference was found in the plasma levels of BDNF and cortisol between the two groups. In addition, no correlations were found between the total and subregion amygdala volume and plasma levels of cortisol or BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomichi Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
- Medical Center for Dementia, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Keita Watanabe
- Open Innovation Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
| | - Hirofumi Tesen
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
| | - Atsuko Ikenouchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
- Medical Center for Dementia, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Ryohei Igata
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
| | - Yuki Konishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
| | - Tomoya Natsuyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
| | - Rintaro Fujii
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
| | - Shingo Kakeda
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki 036-8560, Japan;
| | - Taro Kishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan; (T.K.); (N.I.)
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan; (T.K.); (N.I.)
| | - Reiji Yoshimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; (N.O.); (H.T.); (A.I.); (R.I.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (R.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-93-691-7253
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17
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Nasa A, Mosley O, Roman E, Kelliher A, Gaughan C, Levins KJ, Coppinger D, O'Hanlon E, Cannon M, Roddy DW. MRI volumetric changes in hippocampal subfields in psychosis: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2022; 11:44. [PMID: 35292116 PMCID: PMC8925181 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-01916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hippocampus has for long been known for its ability to form new, declarative memory. However, emerging findings across conditions in the psychosis spectrum also implicate its role in emotional regulation. Systematic reviews have demonstrated consistent volume atrophic changes in the hippocampus. The aim of the systematic review and metanalysis which will follow from this protocol will be to investigate the volume-based neuroimaging findings across each of the subfields of the hippocampus in psychosis independent of diagnosis. METHODS Volume changes across subfields of the hippocampus in psychotic illnesses will be assessed by systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). MRI neuroimaging studies of patients with a definitive diagnosis of psychosis (including brief pre-diagnostic states) will be included. Studies lacking adequate controls, illicit drug use, medical psychosis, history of other significant psychiatric comorbidities, or emphasis on age groups above 65 or below 16 will be excluded. Subfields investigated will include the CA1, CA2/3, CA4, subiculum, presubiculum, parasubiculum, dentate gyrus, stratum, molecular layer, granular cell layer, entorhinal cortex, and fimbria. Two people will independently screen abstracts from the output of the search to select suitable studies. This will be followed by the two reviewers performing a full-text review of the studies which were selected based on suitable abstracts. One reviewer will independently perform all the data extraction, and another reviewer will then systemically check all the extracted information using the original articles to ensure accuracy. Statistical analysis will be performed using the metafor and meta-packages in R Studio with the application of the random-effects model. DISCUSSION This study will provide insight into the volumetric changes in psychosis of the subfields of the hippocampus, independent of diagnosis. This may shed light on the intricate neural pathology which encompasses psychosis and will open avenues for further exploration of the structures identified as potential drivers of volume change. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020199558.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Nasa
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Olivia Mosley
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Elena Roman
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Allison Kelliher
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Caoimhe Gaughan
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Kirk J Levins
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David Coppinger
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Erik O'Hanlon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Darren William Roddy
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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18
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Schlüter C, Fraenz C, Friedrich P, Güntürkün O, Genç E. Neurite density imaging in amygdala nuclei reveals interindividual differences in neuroticism. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2051-2063. [PMID: 35049113 PMCID: PMC8933246 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroticism is known to have significant health implications. While previous research revealed that interindividual differences in the amygdala function are associated with interindividual differences in neuroticism, the impact of the amygdala’s structure and especially microstructure on variations in neuroticism remains unclear. Here, we present the first study using NODDI to examine the association between the in vivo microstructural architecture of the amygdala and neuroticism at the level of neurites. We, therefore, acquired brain images from 221 healthy participants using advanced multi‐shell diffusion‐weighted imaging. Because the amygdala comprises several nuclei, we, moreover, used a high‐resolution T1 image to automatically segment the amygdala into eight different nuclei. Neuroticism and its facets have been assessed using the NEO‐PI‐R. Finally, we associated neuroticism and its facets with the volume and microstructure of the amygdala nuclei. Statistical analysis revealed that lower neurite density in the lateral amygdala nucleus (La) was significantly associated with higher scores in depression, one of the six neuroticism facets. The La is the sensory relay of the amygdala, filtering incoming information based on previous experiences. Reduced neurite density and related changes in the dendritic structure of the La could impair its filtering function. This again might cause harmless sensory information to be misevaluated as threatening and lead to the altered amygdala responsivity as reported in previous studies investigating the functional correlates of neuroticism and neuroticism‐related disorders like depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schlüter
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph Fraenz
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Patrick Friedrich
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Erhan Genç
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
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Murphy F, Nasa A, Cullinane D, Raajakesary K, Gazzaz A, Sooknarine V, Haines M, Roman E, Kelly L, O'Neill A, Cannon M, Roddy DW. Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:748372. [PMID: 35599780 PMCID: PMC9120425 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.748372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of early life stress (ELS) demonstrate the long-lasting effects of acute and chronic stress on developmental trajectories. Such experiences can become biologically consolidated, creating individual vulnerability to psychological and psychiatric issues later in life. The hippocampus, amygdala, and the medial prefrontal cortex are all important limbic structures involved in the processes that undermine mental health. Hyperarousal of the sympathetic nervous system with sustained allostatic load along the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis and its connections has been theorized as the basis for adult psychopathology following early childhood trauma. In this review we synthesize current understandings and hypotheses concerning the neurobiological link between childhood trauma, the HPA axis, and adult psychiatric illness. We examine the mechanisms at play in the brain of the developing child and discuss how adverse environmental stimuli may become biologically incorporated into the structure and function of the adult brain via a discussion of the neurosequential model of development, sensitive periods and plasticity. The HPA connections and brain areas implicated in ELS and psychopathology are also explored. In a targeted review of HPA activation in mood and psychotic disorders, cortisol is generally elevated across mood and psychotic disorders. However, in bipolar disorder and psychosis patients with previous early life stress, blunted cortisol responses are found to awakening, psychological stressors and physiological manipulation compared to patients without previous early life stress. These attenuated responses occur in bipolar and psychosis patients on a background of increased cortisol turnover. Although cortisol measures are generally raised in depression, the evidence for a different HPA activation profile in those with early life stress is inconclusive. Further research is needed to explore the stress responses commonalities between bipolar disorder and psychosis in those patients with early life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felim Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anurag Nasa
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Kesidha Raajakesary
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Areej Gazzaz
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vitallia Sooknarine
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Madeline Haines
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Roman
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linda Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aisling O'Neill
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darren William Roddy
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Kelly JR, Gillan CM, Prenderville J, Kelly C, Harkin A, Clarke G, O'Keane V. Psychedelic Therapy's Transdiagnostic Effects: A Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Perspective. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:800072. [PMID: 34975593 PMCID: PMC8718877 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.800072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating clinical evidence shows that psychedelic therapy, by synergistically combining psychopharmacology and psychological support, offers a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a range of disorders with restricted and/or maladaptive habitual patterns of emotion, cognition and behavior, notably, depression (MDD), treatment resistant depression (TRD) and addiction disorders, but perhaps also anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders. Despite the emergent transdiagnostic evidence, the specific clinical dimensions that psychedelics are efficacious for, and associated underlying neurobiological pathways, remain to be well-characterized. To this end, this review focuses on pre-clinical and clinical evidence of the acute and sustained therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy in the context of a transdiagnostic dimensional systems framework. Focusing on the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) as a template, we will describe the multimodal mechanisms underlying the transdiagnostic therapeutic effects of psychedelic therapy, traversing molecular, cellular and network levels. These levels will be mapped to the RDoC constructs of negative and positive valence systems, arousal regulation, social processing, cognitive and sensorimotor systems. In summarizing this literature and framing it transdiagnostically, we hope we can assist the field in moving toward a mechanistic understanding of how psychedelics work for patients and eventually toward a precise-personalized psychedelic therapy paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claire M. Gillan
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jack Prenderville
- Transpharmation Ireland Ltd, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Clare Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew Harkin
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Veronica O'Keane
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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