Amygdala reactivity to emotional faces predicts improvement in major depression.
Behavioral studies suggest that emotional reactivity in depressed persons predicts subsequent symptom reduction. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging in a prospective study, we show that greater amygdala activation to emotional facial expressions among depressed patients predicts symptom reduction 8 months later, controlling for initial depression severity and medication status. Functional magnetic resonance imaging may thus be used as a method to identify neural markers in depressed patients at risk for poor outcome.
Canli
Turhan
T
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA.
Cooney
Rebecca E
RE
Goldin
Philippe
P
Shah
Maulik
M
Sivers
Heidi
H
Thomason
Moriah E
ME
Whitfield-Gabrieli
Susan
S
Gabrieli
John D E
JD
Gotlib
Ian H
IH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen