title: White matter integrity deficit in treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fronto-limbic system plays critical roles in cognitive functions, including emotion. This is supported by recent reports in the studies of major depressive disorder using diffusion tensor imaging of the brain. This study examined white matter integrity and correlations to cognitive function in treatment-naive adult patients with major depressive disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fractional anisotropy values, derived from diffusion tensor imaging, were compared in 18 treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder and 18 well-matched healthy controls by voxel-based analysis. Correlation of fractional anisotropy with performance of cognitive tests was also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower fractional anisotropy values in the bilateral medial frontal gyri, right subgyral frontal and temporal lobes, and left middle frontal and cingulate gyri were observed in patients than in controls. However, no correlation between mean fractional anisotropy values and cognitive scores was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the notion that deficit of white matter integrity in the fronto-limbic system may be the neural substrate of major depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Q J
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002681:China; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult