Widespread Morphometric Abnormalities in Major Depression: Neuroplasticity and Potential for Biomarker Development

Abstract

Major depression is common and debilitating. Identifying neurobiological subtypes that comprise the disorder and predict clinical outcome are key challenges. Genetic and environmental factors leading to major depression are expressed in neural structure and function. Volumetric decreases in gray matter have been demonstrated in corticolimbic circuits involved in emotion regulation. MR imaging observable abnormalities reflect cytoarchitectonic alterations within a local neuroendocrine milieu with systemic effects. Multivariate pattern analysis offers the potential to identify the neurobiological subtypes and predictors of clinical outcome. It is essential to characterize disease heterogeneity by incorporating data-driven inductive and symptom-based deductive approaches in an iterative process.

Keywords: Anterior cingulate; Antidepressant; Hippocampus; MR imaging; Machine learning; Neuroplasticity; Psychoradiology; Psychotherapy.