Study Report

Reference
Citation | Videbech, 2002 PubMed |
Full Info | Videbech, P., Ravnkilde, B., Pedersen, T.H., Hartvig, H., Egander, A., Clemmensen, K., Rasmussen, N.A., Andersen, F., Gjedde, A. and Rosenberg, R. (2002) The Danish PET/depression project: clinical symptoms and cerebral blood flow. A regions-of-interest analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 106, 35-44.
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Study
Hypothesis or Background |
We wanted to explore associations between clinical symptoms of depression and the blood flow to specific regions of the brain. Furthermore, we wanted to compare the regions-of-interest (ROI) method with the functions-of-interest (FOI) approach.
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Sample Information | 42 representative in-patients with major depression and 47 matched healthy controls |
Method Detail | The resting blood flow to 42 ROI in the brain was obtained with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in 42 representative in-patients with major depression and 47 matched healthy controls. |
Method Keywords | positron emission tomography (PET) |
Result | The patients had increased blood flow to hippocampus, cerebellum, anterior cingulate gyrus, and the basal ganglia. A strong negative correlation was found between the degree of psychomotor retardation of the patients and the blood flow to the dorsolateral and supraorbital prefrontal cortices. The total Hamilton score was correlated with the blood flow to the hippocampus. |
Conclusions | Our findings support the notion that depressed patients have disturbances in the loops connecting the frontal lobes, limbic system, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. |

Relationships reported by
Videbech, 2002
Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
MDD
|
syndrome |
Basal ganglia (basal ganglia) |
brain morphology and function |
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The patients had increased blood flow to the basal ganglia. |
Positive
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Anterior cingulate cortex (anterior cingulate gyrus) |
brain morphology and function |
|
The patients had increased blood flow to anterior cingulate gyrus |
Positive
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Hippocampus (hippocampus) |
brain morphology and function |
|
The total Hamilton score was correlated with the blood flow to the hippocampus. |
Positive
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Cerebellum (cerebellum) |
brain morphology and function |
|
The patients had increased blood flow to cerebellum |
Positive
|
Low energy (psychomotor retardation)
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symptoms |
Prefrontal cortex (prefrontal cortices) |
brain morphology and function |
|
A strong negative correlation was found between the degree of psychomotor retardation of the patients and the blood flow to the dorsolateral and supraorbital prefrontal cortices. |
Positive
|