Prefrontal cortical volume in childhood-onset major depression: preliminary findings.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have been implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). To our knowledge, no prior study has examined prefrontal cortical anatomy in pediatric patients with MDD near the onset of illness before receiving treatment.


METHODS
Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies were conducted in 22 psychotropic-naive patients with MDD, aged 9 to 17 years (10 males and 12 females), and 22 case-matched healthy comparison control subjects. Twelve of the 22 patients with MDD had at least 1 first-degree relative with MDD (familial MDD), whereas 10 had no clear family history of MDD (nonfamilial MDD).


RESULTS
Patients with nonfamilial MDD had significantly larger left-sided but not right-sided prefrontal cortical volumes than patients with familial MDD (17% larger) and controls (11% larger). Left-sided and right-sided prefrontal cortical volumes did not differ significantly between patients with familial MDD and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide new evidence of prefrontal cortical alterations in pediatric MDD that may differ in familial and nonfamilial subtypes of MDD. Our findings must be considered preliminary, however, in view of the small sample size.
Nolan
Carla L
CL
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Moore
Gregory J
GJ
Madden
Rachel
R
Farchione
Tiffany
T
Bartoi
Marla
M
Lorch
Elisa
E
Stewart
Carol M
CM
Rosenberg
David R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors