Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Evaluation of Treatment Efficacy in Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder: a Review of the Literature

Overview

Journal Funct Neurol

Specialties Neurology
Psychology

Date 2012 Jun 13

PMID 22687162

Citations 14

Authors

Eduardo Caverzasi

Anna Pichiecchio

Guy Umberto Poloni

Alessandro Calligaro

Moreno Pasin

Fulvia Palesi

Gloria Castellazzi

Massimo Pasquini

Massimo Biondi

Francesco Barale

Stefano Bastianello

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

More and more neuroimaging studies are using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to explore correlates of response to therapy in major depressive disorder (MDD). Their aim is to further understanding of the effects of neurotransmitter changes in areas involved in MDD and the mechanisms underlying a good treatment response. We set out to summarise the literature from the past fifteen years on biochemical correlates of treatment response in MDD patients, reflected in pre- and post-therapy changes in 1H-MRS measurements. Our literature search identified fifteen articles reporting 1H-MRS studies in MDD treatment; no study used 1P-MRS. Despite the wide diversity of 1H-MRS methods applied, brain regions studied, and metabolite changes found, there emerged strong evidence of a correlation between changes in neurometabolite concentrations, in particular glutamate, N-acetylaspartate and choline, and a good treatment response to pharmacotherapy or antidepressant stimulation techniques.

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