VAL66MET BDNF GENOTYPES in MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION: EFFECTS on BRAIN STRUCTURE and TREATMENT OUTCOME.
VAL66MET BDNF GENOTYPES IN MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION: EFFECTS ON BRAIN STRUCTURE AND TREATMENT OUTCOME.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Depress Anxiety. 2012 Nov 16;
Cardoner N, Soria V, Gratacòs M, Hernández-Ribas R, Pujol J, López-Solà M, Deus J, Urretavizcaya M, Estivill X, Menchón JM, Soriano-Mas C
BACKGROUND: A brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) prodomain single-nucleotide polymorphism resulting in a valine to methionine substitution (Val66Met) has been associated with depression-related phenotypes and brain alterations involving regions consistently associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of regional gray matter (GM) volume within the hippocampus and other unpredicted regions at the whole-brain level with the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in MDD patients with melancholic features and their impact on treatment outcome. METHODS: A sample of 37 MDD inpatients was assessed with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-T scanner). GM volume was analyzed with voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM5). The BDNF Val66Met variant was genotyped using SNPlex technology. MDD patients were classified according to genotype distribution under a dominant model of inheritance and thus comparing Val66 homozygotes (n = 22) versus Met66 carriers (n = 15). RESULTS: A significant GM volume reduction in the left hippocampus was observed in Met66 carriers. Conversely, in the same group, a volume increase in the right orbitofrontal cortex was detected. Moreover, a significant negative correlation between left hippocampal volume and days to remission was found in Val66 homozygotes, whereas right orbitofrontal volume was inversely correlated to days to remission in Met66 carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Val66Met BDNF variant may have a differential impact on the brain structure of melancholic patients with possible treatment outcome implications.
HubMed – depression
PROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Depress Anxiety. 2012 Nov 16;
Nickerson A, Steenkamp M, Aerka IM, Salters-Pedneault K, Carper TL, Barnes JB, Litz BT
BACKGROUND: Comorbidity in psychological disorders is common following exposure to a traumatic event. Relatively little is known about the manner in which changes in the symptoms of a given type of psychological disorder in the acute period following a trauma impact changes in symptoms of another disorder. This study investigated the relationship between changes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in the first 12 weeks following sexual assault. METHODS: Participants were 126 women who had been sexually assaulted in the previous 4 weeks. RESULTS: Lower level mediation analyses revealed that changes in PTSD symptoms had a greater impact on changes in depression and anxiety than vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: The finding highlights the role of PTSD symptoms in influencing subsequent change in other psychological symptoms. These findings are discussed in the context of models detailing the trajectory of psychological disorders following trauma, and clinical implications are considered.
HubMed – depression
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN LATE LIFE AND CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLIGENCE AND LESION LOCATION.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Depress Anxiety. 2012 Nov 16;
Murray AD, Staff RT, McNeil CJ, Salarirad S, Phillips LH, Starr J, Deary IJ, Whalley LJ
BACKGROUND: The influence of white matter lesions on depressive symptoms in healthy ageing populations remains unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected cerebrovascular disease in a normal population living independently in the community, and measured the influence of location of brain abnormalities, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex. METHODS: Prospective cohort: 497 community dwelling individuals all born in 1936, who took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947, were followed up in 2000 and at biannual intervals in a longitudinal study of health and cognitive aging. Two hundred forty-four volunteered for brain MRI in 2004-2006. Suitable data were available in 219/244, of whom 115 were men. Brain hyperintensities in lobar white matter, basal ganglia , periventricular, and infratentorial regions were measured using Scheltens’ scale. Depressed mood was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on three biannual intervals. Relationships between Scheltens’ scores, HADS-D scores, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex were assessed using general linear modeling. RESULTS: The main predictor of depressive symptom scores was poorer fluid intelligence (partial ?(2) =0.023-0.028, P < .05). Ischemic change in the brainstem (partial ?(2) = 0.026, P ?.05) and basal ganglia (partial ?(2) =0.018, P ? .05) also predicted HADS-D scores. There was no relationship with sex or living alone. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperintensities in the brainstem and basal ganglia are associated with depressive symptoms. Higher fluid intelligence is associated with lower depressive symptoms in this normal, ageing population. HubMed – depression
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