Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Bhagwagar, 2007 PubMed |
| Full Info | Bhagwagar, Z., Wylezinska, M., Jezzard, P., Evans, J., Ashworth, F., Sule, A., Matthews, P.M. and Cowen, P.J. (2007) Reduction in occipital cortex gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations in medication-free recovered unipolar depressed and bipolar subjects. Biol Psychiatry, 61, 806-812.
|
Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Studies using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have indicated that unmedicated, acutely depressed patients have decreased levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in occipital cortex. Cortical levels of glutamate (Glu) may be increased, although these data are less consistent. The aim of this study was to use MRS to determine whether changes in GABA and Glu levels were present in patients with mood disorders who had recovered and were no longer taking medication.
|
| Sample Information | medication-free, fully recovered subjects with a history of recurrent unipolar depression (n = 15), bipolar disorder (n = 16), and a group of healthy controls (n = 18) |
|---|
| Method Detail | An [1H]-MRS was used to measure levels of GABA, of the combined concentration of Glu and glutamine (Gln), and of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in occipital cortex in subjects. |
| Method Keywords | spectrophotometric analysis |
| Result | |
| Conclusions | Occipital levels of GABA and NAA were significantly lower in recovered depressed and bipolar subjects than in healthy controls, whereas Glu +Gln concentrations were higher. |
| Remark | Our data suggest that recovered unmedicated subjects with a history of mood disorder have changes in cortical concentrations of GABA, NAA, and Glu +Gln. These biochemical abnormalities may be markers of a trait vulnerability to mood disorder, rather than neurochemical correlates of an abnormal mood state.
|
Relationships reported by
Bhagwagar, 2007
| 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 |
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)) |
molecule |
|
Occipital levels of GABA and NAA were significantly lower in recovered depressed and bipolar subjects than in healthy controls, whereas Glu +Gln concentrations were higher. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamates (glutamate (Glu)) |
molecule |
|
Occipital levels of GABA and NAA were significantly lower in recovered depressed and bipolar subjects than in healthy controls, whereas Glu +Gln concentrations were higher. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamine (glutamine (Gln)) |
molecule |
|
Occipital levels of GABA and NAA were significantly lower in recovered depressed and bipolar subjects than in healthy controls, whereas Glu +Gln concentrations were higher. |
Positive
|
