Abstract
Background
The results of prior proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies in unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) evaluating choline (Cho)/creatine
(Cr) and N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA)/Cr ratios are mixed. These single-voxel or one-dimensional
chemical-shift imaging (CSI) nonautomated 1H-MRS studies has been unable to evaluate global or lateralized abnormalities in neuronal
or membrane function. Using automated multivoxel two-dimensional CSI 1H-MRS techniques, we tested the hypothesis that patients with MDD have focal neuronal
and membrane abnormalities localized in the subcortical region.
Methods
Whole brain and subcortical measures of Cho, NAA, Cr, and myo-inositol (mI) were obtained in 18 patients with MDD and 20 control subjects using automated two-dimensional
CSI 1H-MRS.
Results
Compared with control subjects, MDD patients had a significantly lower mean NAA/Cr
amplitude in the caudate and a significantly higher mean Cho/Cr amplitude in the putamen,
particularly on the right side. No differences were observed for global whole brain
measurements.
Conclusions
The findings support reduced neuronal viability or function in the caudate and altered
membrane phospholipid metabolism in the putamen for patients with MDD. Our results
are consistent with prior magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography,
and postmortem reports of focal and lateralized abnormalities of the basal ganglia
in MDD.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 21,
2002
Received in revised form:
November 13,
2002
Received:
March 8,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
