A magnetic resonance imaging study of putamen nuclei in major depression
The basal ganglia are recognized as putative mediators of certain cognitive and behavioral symptoms of major depression. Moreover, patients with basal ganglia lesions have repeatedly exhibited significant affective symptomatology, including apathy, depressive mood, and psychosis. Using high resolution, axial T2 intermediate magnetic resonance images, and a systematic sampling stereologic method, we assessed putamen nuclei volumes in 41 patients with major depression (DSM-III) and 44 healthy volunteer controls of similar age. Depressed patients had significantly smaller putamen nuclei compared with controls. Age was negatively correlated with putamen size in both groups. These results are the first demonstration of diminished putamen volumes in depression and further support a role for basal ganglia structures in the etiopathogenesis of depression.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Psychiatry
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Psychiatry
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences