Deep learning-based image reconstruction benefits diffusion tensor imaging for assessing severity of depression

Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether deep learning-based image reconstruction (DLR) improves the accuracy of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements used to assess the severity of depression. Methods A total of 52 patients diagnosed with depression in our hospital between March 2023 and July 2023 were enrolled in this study. The severity of depression was measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Each patient underwent DTI scans. Two image sets were generated: one with the original DTI (ORI DTI) and one using DLR DTI. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were used to compare the fractional anisotropy (FA) between DLR DTI and ORI DTI, as well as between patients with mild-to-moderate and those with severe depression. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to determine independent factors for discriminating mild-to-moderate from severe depression patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and areas under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the diagnostic performance. Results Twenty-eight patients with mild-to-moderate depression and 24 with severe depression were included. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of gender ( p = 0.115), age ( p = 0.603), or educational background ( p = 0.148). Compared to patients with mild-to-moderate depression, those with severe depression showed lower FA values in the right corticospinal tract (CST) on ORI DTI. Using DLR DTI, decreases in FA values were observed in the right CST, right anterior thalamic radiation, and left superior longitudinal fasciculus. The diagnostic model based on DLR DTI outperformed the ORI DTI model in assessing severity of depression (AUC: 0.951 vs. 0.764, p 0.001). Conclusion DLR DTI demonstrated greater sensitivity in detecting white matter (WM) abnormalities in patients with severe depression and provided better diagnostic performance in evaluating severity of depression.