Divergent topological architecture of the default mode network as a pretreatment predictor of early antidepressant response in major depressive disorder

Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 14:6:39243. doi: 10.1038/srep39243.

Abstract

Identifying a robust pretreatment neuroimaging marker would be helpful for the selection of an optimal therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD). We recruited 82 MDD patients [n = 42 treatment-responsive depression (RD) and n = 40 non-responding depression (NRD)] and 50 healthy controls (HC) for this study. Based on the thresholded partial correlation matrices of 58 specific brain regions, a graph theory approach was applied to analyse the topological properties. When compared to HC, both RD and NRD patients exhibited a lower nodal degree (Dnodal) in the left anterior cingulate gyrus; as for RD, the Dnodal of the left superior medial orbitofrontal gyrus was significantly reduced, but the right inferior orbitofrontal gyrus was increased (all P < 0.017, FDR corrected). Moreover, the nodal degree in the right dorsolateral superior frontal cortex (SFGdor) was significantly lower in RD than in NRD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the λ and nodal degree in the right SFGdor exhibited a good ability to distinguish nonresponding patients from responsive patients, which could serve as a specific maker to predict an early response to antidepressants. The disrupted topological configurations in the present study extend the understanding of pretreatment neuroimaging predictors for antidepressant medication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Mapping / methods*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnostic imaging
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gyrus Cinguli / drug effects
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Pathways
  • Prefrontal Cortex / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents