Brain MRI lesions and atrophy are related to depression in multiple sclerosis

It is unclear whether brain MRI lesions are associated with depression in m ultiple sclerosis (MS). Neurological dysfunction in depressed (n = 19) and non-depressed (n = 29) MS patients was rated by expanded disability status scale (EDSS). EDSS was weakly predictive of the presence of (P = 0.03) and severity of (p = 0.01) depression. After correcting for EDSS, the presence of depression was predicted by superior frontal and superior parietal hypoi ntense T1 lesions (p< 0.01); the severity of depression was predicted by su perior frontal, superior parietal and temporal T1 lesions, lateral and thir d ventricular enlargement, and frontal atrophy (p < 0.01). Depression was n ot related to bright T2 lesions or enhancement. We conclude that atrophy an d cortical-subcortical disconnection due to frontal and parietal white matt er destructive lesions may contribute to depression in MS. NeuroReport 11:1 153-1158 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.