Brain metabolic changes associated with symptom factor improvement in major depressive disorder

Background: Symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) have been linked to regional brain function through imaging studies of symptom provocation in normal control subjects and baseline studies of subjects with MDD. We exami ned associations between change in depressive symptom factors and change in regional brain metabolism from before to after treatment of MDD. Methods: Thirty-nine outpatients with MDD underwent F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning before and after treatment with eith er paroxetine or interpersonal psychotherapy. Associations were determined between changes in regional brain metabolism and changes in four Hamilton D epression Rating Scale factors (anxiety/somatization [ANX], psychomotor ret ardation [PR], cognitive disturbance [COGN], and sleep disturbance and two corresponding Profile of Mood States subscales (tension [TENS] and fatigue [FATIG]). Results: Improvement in ANX, PR, TENS, and FATIG,factors was associated wit h decreasing ventral frontal lobe metabolism. Improvement in ANX and TENS w as also associated with decreasing ventral anterior cingulate gyrus (AC) an d anterior insula activity, whereas improvement in PR was associated with i ncreasing dorsal AC activity. COGN improvement was associated with increasi ng dorsolateral prefrontal cortex metabolism. Conclusions: Brain regions that show significant relationships with symptom provocation in normal control subjects have similar relationships with MDD symptoms as they improve with treatment. (C) 2001 Society of Biological Ps ychiatry.