Multi-modal morphometric association study of subclinical depressive symptoms using voxel-based morphometry, cortical thickness, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 351; pp. 755 - 764
• Main Authors: Schräder, Julia, Meller, Tina, Evermann, Ulrika, Pfarr, Julia-Katharina, Nenadić, Igor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.04.2024
• Subjects: Brain - pathology; Depression - diagnostic imaging; Depression - pathology; Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Female; Gray Matter - diagnostic imaging; Gray Matter - pathology; Healthy subjects; Humans; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Psychiatric/Mental Health; Subclinical depression; White Matter - diagnostic imaging; White Matter - pathology; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Healthy subjects; Subclinical depression; Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.221

Case-control studies in major depression have established numerous regional grey and white matter effects in fronto-limbic brain regions. Yet, brain structural studies of dimensional depressive psychopathology within the subclinical spectrum are still limited, in particular for multi-modal imaging approaches. Using voxel-based and surface-based morphometry (cortical thickness) in combination with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in a large non-clinical sample (N = 300), we correlated grey and white matter structural variation with subclinical depressive symptoms assessed with Beck's Depression inventory (BDI). We found a significant decrease of axial diffusivity associated with higher BDI scores in the left hippocampal part of the cingulum bundle (p < 0.05, threshold free cluster enhanced [TFCE] p-value) and some grey matter trend results e.g., a non-linear negative correlation of cortical thickness with depressive symptom load in the right pre/postcentral cortex (pFWE = 0.054, family wise error [FWE] peak level corrected) and a trend in grey matter volume decrease in women in the inferior frontal gyrus (pFWE = 0.054). Since all grey matter effects disappear after FWE correction, we assume more stable effects in a larger, less homogenous sample enriched by help-seeking subjects covering a wider range of subclinical psychopathology. Our study adds correlations between single depressive symptoms and brain structure to a growing literature. Since subclinical depression is increasingly recognised to be relevant in our understanding of manifest depression, early detection and identification of potential brain correlates of minor depressive symptoms has the potential to expand and reveal possible biomarkers and early psychological treatment. •Subclinical depressive symptoms cause structural grey (trend effect) and white matter changes in healthy subjects.•Limbic/hippocampal brain regions are affected by singe depressive symptoms.•Brain structural changes might be relevant in risk states of depression.