title: The Queen and I: neural correlates of altered self-related cognitions in major depressive episode.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pervasive negative thoughts about the self are central to the experience of depression. Brain imaging studies in the general population have localised self-related cognitive processing to areas of the medial pre-frontal cortex.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use fMRI to compare the neural correlates of self-referential processing in depressed and non-depressed participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparison of regional activation using Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI in 13 non-medicated participants with major depressive episode and 14 comparison participants, whilst carrying out a self-referential cognitive task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed significant activation of the dorsomedial pre-frontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex in the 'self-referent' condition. The depressed group showed significantly greater activation in the medial superior frontal cortex during the self-referent task. No difference was observed between groups in the 'other-referent' condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major depressive episode is associated with specific neurofunctional changes related to self-referential processing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarsam
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Graeme S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kinderman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012649:Self Concept