MK4MDD

Genetic/Epigenetic Locus Search Cross Data Search

Study Report

Reference

Citation	Bajbouj, 2006 PubMed
Full Info	Bajbouj, M., Lisanby, S.H., Lang, U.E., Danker-Hopfe, H., Heuser, I. and Neu, P. (2006) Evidence for impaired cortical inhibition in patients with unipolar major depression. Biol Psychiatry, 59, 395-400.

Study

Hypothesis or Background	Several lines of evidence suggest that central cortical inhibitory mechanisms, especially associated with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission, may play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a useful tool for investigating central cortical inhibitory mechanisms associated with GABAergic neurotransmission in psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Sample Information	20 medication-free depressed patients and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers
Method Detail	By means of transcranial magnetic stimulation, different parameters of cortical excitability, including motor threshold, the cortical silent period, and intracortical inhibition/facilitation, were investigated in 20 medication-free depressed patients and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers.
Method Keywords	transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Result	Silent period and intracortical inhibition were reduced in depressed patients, consistent with a reduced GABAergic tone. Moreover, patients showed a significant hemispheric asymmetry in motor threshold.
Conclusions	This study provides evidence of reduced GABAergic tone and motor threshold asymmetry in patients with major depression.

Relationships reported by Bajbouj, 2006