Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Bar, 2007 PubMed |
| Full Info | Bar, K.J., Wagner, G., Koschke, M., Boettger, S., Boettger, M.K., Schlosser, R. and Sauer, H. (2007) Increased prefrontal activation during pain perception in major depression. Biol Psychiatry, 62, 1281-1287.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
To further elucidate the close interrelation of pain and depression, we investigated cerebral responses to parametrically varied thermal pain intensities in female patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched control subjects by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
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| Sample Information | female patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 13) and matched control subjects (n = 13) |
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| Method Detail | After the assessment of the individual thermal pain threshold, an fMRI-compatible thermode was used to deliver thermal painful stimuli to the right arm. All stimuli were initiated for 10 sec from a baseline resting temperature (32 degrees C) in three different conditions (37 degrees C, 42 degrees C, 45 degrees C). Statistical Parametric Mapping 2 (SPM2) software was used for image processing and statistical analyses. |
| Method Keywords | functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) |
| Result | Patients displayed significantly increased thermal pain thresholds. A comparable increase in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal was observed in key structures of the pain matrix in patients and control subjects. Patients displayed hyperactivation in comparison with control subjects for the painful 45 degrees C condition in the left ventrolateral thalamus, in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as well as a stronger parametric BOLD signal increase in the right VLPFC, DLPFC, and in the contralateral insula. Symptom severity correlated positively with the BOLD signal in the left ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus. |
| Conclusions | We present evidence that cortical structures of the pain matrix are similarly activated in depressed patients and healthy subjects. We report increased prefrontal and lateral thalamic activation during the presentation of painful stimuli, which might explain reduced thermal pain perception on the skin in depressed patients. |
Relationships reported by
Bar, 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 |
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Patients displayed hyperactivation in comparison with control subjects for the painful 45 degrees C condition in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as well as a stronger parametric BOLD signal increase in the DLPFC. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Insula (contralateral insula) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Patients displayed a stronger parametric BOLD signal increase in the contralateral insula. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Patients displayed hyperactivation in comparison with control subjects for the painful 45 degrees C condition in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) as well as a stronger parametric BOLD signal increase in the right VLPFC. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
left ventrolateral thalamus (left ventrolateral thalamus) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Patients displayed hyperactivation in comparison with control subjects for the painful 45 degrees C condition in the left ventrolateral thalamus. Symptom severity correlated positively with the BOLD signal in the left ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus. |
Positive
|
