Amygdala and hippocampus volumes in pediatric major depression.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to measure amygdala and hippocampus volumes in pediatric major depressive disorder (MDD) and to address the question of neuroanatomical continuity with adult-onset depression.


METHODS
We studied 20 children and adolescents with MDD (17 female subjects) and 24 healthy comparison subjects (16 female subjects) using 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Group differences in left and right amygdala and hippocampus volumes were examined using repeated measures analyses of covariance, adjusting for age, gender, and whole brain volume.


RESULTS
Depressed children had significant reductions of left and right amygdala volumes compared with healthy subjects. Hippocampus volumes did not differ between the groups. No significant correlations were found between amygdala volumes and depressive symptom severity, age at onset, or illness duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Smaller amygdalas are present early in the course of pediatric depression and may predispose to the development of this disorder or perhaps more generally of childhood mood disorders. Future research should examine the longitudinal course and functional correlates of amygdala volume abnormalities in childhood-onset depression, including their possible moderation by gender.
Rosso
Isabelle M
IM
Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. irosso@hms.harvard.edu
Cintron
Christina M
CM
Steingard
Ronald J
RJ
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
Young
Ashley D
AD
Yurgelun-Todd
Deborah A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index