Vision in depressive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Reduced dopaminergic transmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression. Furthermore, dopaminergic neurotransmission plays an important role in the physiology of visual contrast sensitivity (CS). To test the hypothesis that altered dopaminergic neurotransmission plays a role in major depression we measured contrast sensitivity in patients with major depression and in healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder were compared to 21 age-matched control subjects on their ability to detect a Gabor target with slightly elevated luminance contrast embedded in seven equi-contrast distracters.


RESULTS
Contrast discrimination thresholds were significantly elevated in unmedicated and medicated patients with major depression compared to control subjects, at all pedestal contrast levels tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast discrimination performance is reduced in depressive patients and might reflect a state of altered dopaminergic neurotransmission.
Bubl
Emanuel
E
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany.
Tebartz Van Elst
Ludger
L
Gondan
Matthias
M
Ebert
Dieter
D
Greenlee
Mark W
MW
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D004298:Dopamine