Cited by 553Treatment of Major DepressionNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

Structural brain abnormalities in major depressive disorder: a selective review of recent MRI studies

Lorenzetti, Valentina, Allen, Nicholas B., Fornito, Alex, Yücel, Murat·2009·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

Background While there is evidence to suggest that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with structural brain abnormalities, the precise nature of these abnormalities remains unclear.Aims To review recent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research findings in MDD while considering the potential influence of key clinical and demographic variables.Method A selective review of all T1-weighted structural MRI studies published between 2000 and 2007 in adult samples of MDD patients.Results Volumetric reductions of the hippocampus, basal ganglia and OFC and SGPFC are consistently found in MDD patients, with more persistent forms of MDD (e.g., multiple episodes or repeated relapses, longer illness duration) being associated with greater impact on regional brain volumes. Gender, medication, stage of illness, and family history all affect the nature of the findings in a regionally specific manner.Limitations Overall, differences between the samples in factors such as illness severity, medication, gender and family history of mental illness makes difficult to identify their confounding effects on the observed neuroanatomical changes. Also, the tracing protocols used for particular brain regions were different amongst the reviewed studies, making difficult to compare their findings.Conclusions The data support the notion that MDD involves pathological alterations of limbic and cortical structures, and that they are generally more apparent in patients with more severe or persistent forms of the illness.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jad.2008.11.021

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  • Meta-analyses revealed that depressed patients showed large volume reductions in frontal regions, especially in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex.

    “Meta-analyses revealed that depressed patients showed large volume reductions in frontal regions, especially in the anterior cingulate and OFC (Koolschijn et al., 2009; Lorenzetti et al., 2009).”

    From The orbitofrontal cortex: reward, emotion and depression (2020) · cites this paper as Lorenzetti et al., 2009

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Authors
Lorenzetti, V., Allen, N. B., Fornito, A., & Yücel, M.
Affiliations
The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author
Yücel, Murat
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-09
Volume
117
Issue
1-2
Pages
1-17
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1980508260
Cited by
553
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 56 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 52
FWCI
3.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords
major depressive disorder, structural brain abnormalities, hippocampal volume, basal ganglia, orbitofrontal cortex, brain atrophy, dysthymia, disease duration, relapse, gender differences, antipsychotic drugs, family history of mental illness, limbic system, cortical structure
MeSH terms
Adult, Amygdala, Basal Ganglia, Brain, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Frontal Lobe, Hippocampus, Humans, Limbic System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors, Temporal Lobe, Genetic Predisposition to Disease

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