Volumetric reduction in left subgenual prefrontal cortex in early onset depression.
BACKGROUND
Subgenual prefrontal cortex (SGPFC) volume reduction has been reported in middle age adults with major depression (MD) or bipolar affective disorder. In this study, the authors test the hypothesis that SGPFC reduction is present in adolescent onset MD, and examine differences in the magnitude of reduction in younger versus older women.


METHODS
Subgenual prefrontal cortex volume was measured from T1 weighted MR images in (1) 30 young women with early onset MD versus eight age-matched controls, and (2) 18 middle aged women with recurrent MD versus nine age-matched controls.


RESULTS
Left SGPFC volume was reduced in adolescent and middle aged females with depression. The magnitude of the difference between depressed and control groups (average 19% difference) was similar in younger and older women.


CONCLUSIONS
Left subgenual cingulate volume reductions are present in young women with adolescent onset MD.
Botteron
Kelly N
KN
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Washington University, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Raichle
Marcus E
ME
Drevets
Wayne C
WC
Heath
Andrew C
AC
Todd
Richard D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*