Key result
First-episode, untreated major depressive disorder was not associated with significant differences in cortical thickness, surface area, or subcortical volumes compared to healthy controls matched for BMI and smoking status.
Why the study?
Previous brain imaging studies in first-episode, untreated MDD yielded inconsistent results and did not match patients to controls regarding BMI and smoking.
Case-Control (n=40)
No
When matched for BMI and smoking status, first-episode untreated MDD patients show no significant differences in cortical thickness, surface area, or subcortical volumes compared to healthy controls.
Suggests BMI and smoking confound prior brain imaging findings in MDD; leaves open whether structural changes emerge later or in other subgroups.
Objective: To date, a small number of studies have investigated cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and subcortical volume abnormalities in first-episode, untreated patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The findings of previous studies are not entirely consistent. Previous studies did not match first-episode, untreated patients with MDD to controls regarding body mass index (BMI) and smoking, which could contribute to the inconsistency of results. The aim of the current study was to examine whether morphological abnormalities are present in first-episode and untreated MDD patients in comparison with well-matched controls, particularly concerning BMI and smoking status.
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Dursun Hakan Delibaş (2019) conducted a case-control in Major Depressive Disorder (n=40). Major Depressive Disorder vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volumes. First-episode, untreated major depressive disorder was not associated with significant differences in cortical thickness, surface area, or subcortical volumes compared to healthy controls matched for BMI and smoking status.
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