Amygdala and hippocampal volumes in familial early onset major depressive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities in the amygdala and hippocampus have been implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). To our knowledge, no prior study has examined amygdala-hippocampus anatomy in pediatric patients with familial MDD (at least one first degree relative with MDD).


METHODS
Thirty-two psychotropic-naive patients with familial MDD, aged 8-21 years (12 males and 20 females), and 35 group-matched healthy participants (13 males and 22 females) underwent volumetric magnetic resonance imaging in order to evaluate hippocampal and amygdala volumes.


RESULTS
Patients with familial MDD had significantly smaller left hippocampal (p = .007, effect size [d] = .44) and right hippocampal volumes (p = .025, d = .33) than controls. No differences were noted in amygdala volumes between groups (right: p > .05, left: p > .05). No correlations between hippocampal or amygdala volumes and demographic or clinical variables were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced hippocampal volume may be suggestive of a risk factor for developing MDD.
MacMaster
Frank P
FP
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Mirza
Yousha
Y
Szeszko
Philip R
PR
Kmiecik
Lauren E
LE
Easter
Phillip C
PC
Taormina
S Preeya
SP
Lynch
Michelle
M
Rose
Michelle
M
Moore
Gregory J
GJ
Rosenberg
David R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors