Larger amygdala volumes in first depressive episode as compared to recurrent major depression and healthy control subjects
Abstract
Background The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that amygdala volumes are reduced in patients with recurrent major depression compared with first episode patients.Methods Using structural magnetic resonance imaging, we compared 30 inpatients with first-episode depression and 27 inpatients with recurrent major depression (DSM-IV) with healthy volunteer subjects from the local community matched for age, gender, and handedness.Results Patients with first-episode depression showed enlarged amygdala volumes compared with patients with recurrent major depression and healthy control subjects. No significant differences were found between patients with recurrent depression and healthy control subjects. No significant correlations were found between amygdala volumes and age of onset, illness duration, or severity of depression.Conclusions Larger amygdala volumes in patients with first-episode depression may result from higher amygdala metabolism and blood flow. Additionally, disease progression with stress-related excitotoxic processes during recurrent depressive episodes might result in decreased amygdala volumes. Prospective investigations to investigate amygdala changes during the course of depression are needed.
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Amygdala volume has been reported to increase in the first episode of depression, whereas hippocampal volume is not decreased.
“amygdala volume has been reported to increase in the first episode of depression, whereas hippocampal volume is not decreased (MacQueen et al., 2003; Frodl et al., 2003).”
From Central effects of stress hormones in health and disease: understanding the protective and damaging effects of stress and stress mediators (2008) · cites this paper as Frodl et al., 2003
Amygdala volume has been reported to increase in the first episode of depression, whereas hippocampal volume is not decreased.
“Interestingly, amygdala volume has been reported to increase in the first episode of depression, whereas hippocampal volume is not decreased.107,108”
From Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain (2006) · cites this paper as [107]
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- Authors
- Frodl, T., Meisenzahl, E. M., Zetzsche, T., Born, C., Jäger, M., Groll, C., Bottlender, R., Leinsinger, G., & Möller, H.-J.
- Affiliations
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Meisenzahl, Eva Maria
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-02
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 338-344
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2009782994
- Cited by
- 278
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 6.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- amygdala volume, first-episode depression, recurrent major depressive disorder, brain structural changes, blood flow, excitotoxicity, age of onset, disease duration, depression severity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aging, Amygdala, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Recurrence, Age of Onset, Disease Progression
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