title: Neurochemical metabolites in prefrontal cortex in patients with mild/moderate levels in first-episode depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have determined the neurochemical metabolite abnormalities in major depressive disorder (MDD). The results of studies are inconsistent. Severity of depression may relate to neurochemical metabolic changes. The aim of this study is to investigate neurochemical metabolite levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with mild/moderate MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with mild MDD, 18 patients with moderate MDD, and 16 matched control subjects participated in the study. Patients had had their first episode. They had not taken treatment. The severity of depression was assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Levels of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and creatine-containing compounds (Cr) were measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 1.5 T, with an 8-cm(3) single voxel placed in the right PFC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The moderate MDD patients had lower NAA/Cr levels than the control group. No differences were found in neurochemical metabolite levels between the mild MDD and control groups. No correlation was found between the patients' neurochemical metabolite levels and HAM-D scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that NAA/Cr levels are low in moderate-level MDD in the PFC. Neurochemical metabolite levels did not change in mild depressive disorder. Our results suggest that the severity of depression may affect neuronal function and viability. Studies are needed to confirm this finding, including studies on severely depressive patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Gülfizar
authors: G
authors: Sözeri-Varma
authors: Nalan
authors: N
authors: Kalkan-Oğuzhanoglu
authors: Muharrem
authors: M
authors: Efe
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Y
authors: Kıroglu
authors: Taçlan
authors: T
authors: Duman
keywords: N-acetyl aspartate; choline; creatine; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; major depressive disorder
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