Life events and hippocampal volume in first-episode major depression.
BACKGROUND
There are many studies on life events in depression and also several studies examining brain structural changes in the hippocampus of depressed patients. However, only few studies have focused on the association of life events and hippocampal volume in depression. The hypothesis of a significant negative association between life events and hippocampal volumes in first episode depression was examined.


METHODS
28 in-patients with a first episode of major depression were examined with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging measuring hippocampal volumes. The precourse of depression was assessed with the Interview for the Retrospective Assessment of the Onset and Course of Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses (IRAOS) and life events by using the Munich Interview for the Assessment of Life Events and Conditions (MEL).


RESULTS
A significant negative correlation between major life events three month before the onset of depression and the left hippocampal volume was found for male patients. In female patients no significant association between major life events and hippocampal volumes could be found.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the hypothesis that the hippocampus plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of major depression in the early phase of the disorder particularly for male patients.
Kronmüller
Klaus-Thomas
KT
Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany. klaus_kronmueller@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Pantel
Johannes
J
Götz
Bianca
B
Köhler
Sebastian
S
Victor
Daniela
D
Mundt
Christoph
C
Magnotta
Vincent A
VA
Giesel
Frederic
F
Essig
Marco
M
Schröder
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents