Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Frodl, 2006 PubMed |
| Full Info | Frodl, T., Schaub, A., Banac, S., Charypar, M., Jager, M., Kummler, P., Bottlender, R., Zetzsche, T., Born, C., Leinsinger, G. et al. (2006) Reduced hippocampal volume correlates with executive dysfunctioning in major depression. J Psychiatry Neurosci, 31, 316-323.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Dysfunction of neuronal plasticity or remodelling seems to contribute to the pathopysiology of major depression and may cause the well-documented hippocampal changes in depression. We aimed to investigate whether reduced hippocampal volumes correlate with executive dysfunctioning or memory dysfunctioning or with depression severity.
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| Sample Information | We recruited 34 inpatients with a previous or current episode of major depression from the department of psychiatry at the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany. We examined the 34 patients and 34 healthy control subjects |
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| Method Detail | We examined the 34 patients and 34 healthy control subjects with structural high resolution MRI. We assessed cognitive functions with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and severity of depression with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. |
| Method Keywords | magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
| Result | Hippocampal volumes and frontal lobe volumes were significantly smaller in patients, compared with healthy control subjects. Furthermore, lower hippocampal volumes were correlated with poorer performance in the WCST. No significant correlations were found between hippocampal volumes and RAVLT performance or severity of depression. |
| Conclusions | The present findings emphasize that patients with reduced hippocampal volumes show more executive dysfunctions than their counterparts. Thus, the mechanisms resulting in reduced hippocampal volumes seem to be related to the development of major depression. |
Relationships reported by
Frodl, 2006
| 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 |
Executive functions (executive dysfunctions) |
cognition and behavior |
|
lower hippocampal volumes were correlated with poorer performance in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The present findings emphasize that patients with reduced hippocampal volumes show more executive dysfunctions than their counterparts. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Frontal Lobe (frontal lobe volumes) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Hippocampal volumes and frontal lobe volumes were significantly smaller in patients, compared with healthy control subjects. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Hippocampus (hippocampal volumes) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Hippocampal volumes and frontal lobe volumes were significantly smaller in patients, compared with healthy control subjects. |
Positive
|
|
Executive functions (executive dysfunctions)
|
cognition and behavior |
Hippocampus (hippocampal volumes) |
brain morphology and function |
|
lower hippocampal volumes were correlated with poorer performance in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The present findings emphasize that patients with reduced hippocampal volumes show more executive dysfunctions than their counterparts. |
Positive
|
|
Depressed mood (depression)
|
symptoms |
Hippocampus (hippocampal volumes) |
brain morphology and function |
|
No significant correlations were found between hippocampal volumes and RAVLT performance or severity of depression. |
Negative
|
