Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 117, Issue 3 , Pages 157-161, October 2009

Magnetization transfer imaging reveals the brain deficit in patients with treatment-refractory depression

  • Ti-Jiang Zhang

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Guizhou, PR China
    • Drs. Ti-Jiang Zhang and Qi-Zhu Wu contributed to the work equally.
    • ,
  • Qi-Zhu Wu

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • Drs. Ti-Jiang Zhang and Qi-Zhu Wu contributed to the work equally.
    • ,
  • Xiao-Qi Huang

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Xue-Li Sun

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Ke Zou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Su Lui

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Fei Liu

      Affiliations

    • School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Jun-Mei Hu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Psychiatry, School of Primary Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Wei-Hong Kuang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Dong-Ming Li

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Fei Li

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Hua-Fu Chen

      Affiliations

    • School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
    • ,
  • Raymond C.K. Chan

      Affiliations

    • Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
    • ,
  • Andrea Mechelli

      Affiliations

    • Section of Neuroimaging, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
    • ,
  • Qi-Yong Gong

      Affiliations

    • Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
    • Division of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital. Guo Xuexiang 37#, Chengdu, 610041, PR China. Tel: +86 28 81812593, fax: +86 28 85423503.

Received 25 November 2008; received in revised form 4 January 2009; accepted 5 January 2009.

Abstract 

Background

Studies on treatment resistant depression (TRD) using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques are very limited.

Methods

A group of 15 patients with clinically defined TRD and 15 matched healthy controls underwent magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) and T1-weighted (T1W) imaging. MTI data were processed and analyzed voxel-wised in SPM2. A voxel based morphometric (VBM) analysis was performed using T1W images.

Results

Reduced magnetization transfer ratio was observed in the TRD group relative to normal controls in the anterior cingulate, insula, caudate tail and amygdala-parahippocampal areas. All these regions were identified within the right hemisphere. VBM revealed no morphological abnormalities in the TRD group compared to the control group. Negative correlations were found between MRI and clinical measures in the inferior temporal gyrus.

Limitations

The cross-sectional design and small sample size.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that MTI is capable of identifying subtle brain abnormalities which underlie TRD and in general more sensitive than morphological measures.

Keywords: Treatment resistant/refractory depression, Magnetization transfer imaging, Magnetization transfer ratio, Limbic system, Striatal nucleus

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PII: S0165-0327(09)00005-6

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.01.003

Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 117, Issue 3 , Pages 157-161, October 2009

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