title: Religious and spiritual importance moderate relation between default mode network connectivity and familial risk for depression.
abstract: Individuals at high risk for depression have increased default mode network (DMN) connectivity, as well as reduced inverse connectivity between the DMN and the central executive network (CEN) [8]. Other studies have indicated that the belief in the importance of religion/spirituality (R/S) is protective against depression in high risk individuals [5]. Given these findings, we hypothesized that R/S importance would moderate DMN connectivity, potentially reducing DMN connectivity or increasing DMN-CEN inverse connectivity in individuals at high risk for depression. Using resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) in a sample of 104 individuals (aged 11-60) at high and low risk for familial depression, we previously reported increased DMN connectivity and reduced DMN-CEN inverse connectivity in high risk individuals. Here, we found that this effect was moderated by self-report measures of R/S importance. Greater R/S importance in the high risk group was associated with decreased DMN connectivity. These results may represent a protective neural adaptation in the DMN of individuals at high risk for depression, and may have implications for other meditation-based therapies for depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: consvob@nyspi.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svob
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Zhishun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Myrna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wickramaratne
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D063132:Connectome; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012306:Risk; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Default mode network; Depression; Meditation; Mindfulness; Religion; Spirituality