Anatomical brain difference of subthreshold depression in young and middle-aged individuals.
Subthreshold depression (StD) is associated with substantial functional impairments due to depressive symptoms that do not fully meet the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Its high incidence in the general population and debilitating symptoms has recently put it at the forefront of mood disorder research.



In this study we investigated common volumetric brain changes in both young and middle-aged StD patients.



Two cohorts of StD patients, young and middle-aged, (n= 57) and matched controls (n= 76) underwent voxel-based morphometry (VBM).



VBM analysis found that: 1) compared with healthy controls, StD patients showed decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the bilateral globus pallidus and precentral gyrus, as well as increased GMV in the left thalamus and right rostral anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex; 2) there is a significant association between Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores and the bilateral globus pallidus (negative) and left thalamus (positive); 3) there is no interaction between age (young vs. middle-age) and group (StD vs. controls).



Our findings indicate significant VBM brain changes in both young and middle-aged individuals with StD. Individuals with StD, regardless of age, may share common neural characteristics.
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Jing
J
Li
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA.
Zengjian
Z
Wang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
JiWon
J
Hwang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Bingcong
B
Zhao
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Xinjing
X
Yang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Suicheng
S
Xin
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Yu
Y
Wang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Huili
H
Jiang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Peng
P
Shi
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China; Dongfang Hospital, The Second Clinic College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Ye
Y
Zhang
School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Xu
X
Wang
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA.
Courtney
C
Lang
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA.
Joel
J
Park
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijng, China.
Tuya
T
Bao
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA.
Jian
J
Kong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
Globus pallidus; Onset-age effect; Subthreshold depression; Thalamus; Voxel-based morphometry