title: Neuroanatomy of verbal working memory as a diagnostic biomarker for depression.
abstract: The functional neuroanatomy of verbal working memory is a potential diagnostic biomarker for depression. Twenty patients with unipolar depression and 20 healthy controls performed a variable load version (n-back) of the task. Functional MRI data were analysed with support vector machine methods. Diagnostic classification was highest at the mid-level of task difficulty (2-back) (sensitivity 65%, specificity 70%, P<0.009). Significant classification of clinical response (>or=50% reduction in clinical symptom ratings) was found at the most difficult level (3-back) (sensitivity 85%, specificity 52%, P<0.003). The functional neuroanatomy of verbal working memory provides a statistically significant but clinically moderate contribution as a diagnostic biomarker for depression, whereas its potential as a neural predictor of clinical response requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK.
authors.forename: Andre F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Marquand
authors.forename: Janaina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mourão-Miranda
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cleare
authors.forename: Cynthia H Y
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009445:Neuroanatomy; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*