Brain Lesion Volume and Neuropsychological Function Predict Efficacy of Treatment for Depression in Multiple Sclerosis

David C. Mohr*, Lucy Epstein, Tracy L. Luks, Donald Goodkin, Darcy Cox, Alison Goldberg, Cynthia Chin, Sarah Nelson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the effects of brain lesions and neuropsychological impairment on the efficacy of treatment for depression in patients with comorbid diagnoses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Thirty patients meeting criteria for MS and MDD received 1 of 3 16-week treatments for depression and were followed for 6 months following treatment cessation. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological evaluations were also obtained. End-of-treatment Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; A. T. Beck, C. H. Ward, M. Mendelson, J. Mock, & J. Erbaugh, 1961) results residualized for baseline BDI were related to right temporal periventricular lesion volume (R2 = .32, p = .002) and left temporal grey-white junction lesion volume (R2 = .19, p = .02) but were not statistically related to lesion volume in any other brain region or to neuropsychological function. BDI results at 6-month follow-up, residualized for end-of-treatment BDI, were predicted by total lesion volume (R2 = .22, p = .005), lesion volume in many discrete areas, and neuropsychological functioning (R2 = .29, p = .0009). The effect of total lesion volume on 6-month follow-up BDI results was fully mediated by neuropsychological function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1017-1024
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Volume71
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Clinical Psychology

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