Neural and genetic correlates of antidepressant response to sleep deprivation: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of moral valence decision in bipolar depression.
BACKGROUND
Total sleep deprivation combined with light therapy causes rapid amelioration of bipolar depression. A polymorphism in the promoter for the serotonin transporter influences both antidepressant response and the structure and function of specific brain areas.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antidepressant therapy or the genotype of the serotonin transporter influence the pattern of neural response to a task targeting the depressive biases in information processing (moral valence decision).


METHODS
Before-and-after trial studying the biologic correlates of response to treatment.


METHODS
University hospital. Patients Twenty inpatients with bipolar depression. Intervention Repeated total sleep deprivation combined with light therapy for 1 week.


METHODS
Brain blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging using a 3.0-T scanner before and after treatment. Self-ratings and observer ratings of mood (visual analog scale 3 times daily and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) before and after treatment.


RESULTS
We found significant interactions of treatment (before and after), response to treatment (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score <8), and moral valence of the stimuli (positive or negative) in the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula, and parietal cortex. In these areas, responders changed their blood oxygen level-dependent responses to emotional stimuli in a pattern opposite of that in nonresponders. Genotype of the promoter for the serotonin transporter predicted response to treatment and influenced baseline neural responses in the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple factors that affect or are affected at the individual level by major depressive episodes in the course of bipolar disorder significantly interact in influencing brain cortical activity in specific areas.
Benedetti
Francesco
F
Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences and Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, San Raffaele Turro, Via Stamira d'Ancona 20, Milano, Italy. benedetti.francesco@hsr.it
Bernasconi
Alessandro
A
Blasi
Valeria
V
Cadioli
Marcello
M
Colombo
Cristina
C
Falini
Andrea
A
Lorenzi
Cristina
C
Radaelli
Daniele
D
Scotti
Giuseppe
G
Smeraldi
Enrico
E
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D019454:Chronotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010789:Phototherapy; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D010100:Oxygen