Abstract
Objective: Limited research has focused on whole-brain functional connectivity in a well-characterized sample of subjects with current Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). We aimed to investigate resting-state functional connectivity and the extent to which this is correlated with depression severity in unmedicated depressed subjects without comorbidities. Methods: We utilized Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to investigate whole-brain functional connectivity in a sample of healthy controls (n=26) and unmedicated subjects diagnosed only with current MDD (n=20). Correlations were calculated between network connectivity strength and depression severity. Results: Depressed subjects demonstrated significantly decreased connectivity in the right frontoparietal (p=0.03), left frontoparietal (p=0.01), and language (p=0.02) networks compared to healthy control subjects. Conclusion: We found abnormal resting-state functional connectivity not previously reported in MDD. Decreased connectivity in the frontoparietal and language networks may represent depression-related difficulties in attention, cognitive control, goal-directed cognition, and language. Findings from this study may further elucidate functional connectivity as a diagnostic marker of depression severity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 38-44 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Psychiatric Research |
Volume | 59 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2014 |
Funding
This research was supported by the Davee Family Foundation and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Women's Board Award .
Keywords
- Connectivity
- Depression
- Independent component analysis
- Resting-state
- fMRI
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry