MRI-defined vascular depression: a review of the construct.
OBJECTIVE: To review the construct of MRI-defined vascular depression and to examine the substantive and methodological issues that bear on its validity as a distinct subtype of depression in late life. DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: We identified three areas that are critical to establishing the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression: (1) understanding and delineating the relationship between MRI hyperintensities, executive dysfunction, and antidepressant treatment outcome; (2) understanding the relationship between, and establishing the validity of, qualitative and quantitative approaches to the measurement of MRI hyperintensities (the primary feature of the proposed subtype); (3) establishing the clinical presentation and course of the subtype in the context of other late-life disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable data supporting the validity of MRI-defined vascular depression, there are a number of critical issues that remain, including establishing a causal relationship between cerebrovascular disease and late-life depression, establishing consistent diagnostic criteria, determining the importance of lesion type and location, and understanding the course of the disorder.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Reproducibility of Results
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Humans
- Geriatrics
- Depressive Disorder
- Cerebrovascular Disorders
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1702 Cognitive Sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Reproducibility of Results
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Humans
- Geriatrics
- Depressive Disorder
- Cerebrovascular Disorders
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1702 Cognitive Sciences