Florian Thomas-Odenthal, Kai Ringwald, Lea Teutenberg, Frederike Stein, Nina Alexander, Linda M Bonnekoh, Katharina Brosch, Katharina Dohm, Kira Flinkenflügel, Dominik Grotegerd, Tim Hahn, Andreas Jansen, Elisabeth J Leehr, Susanne Meinert, Julia-Katharina Pfarr, Harald Renz, Navid Schürmeyer, Thomas Stief, Benjamin Straube, Katharina Thiel, Paula Usemann, Alexandra Winter, Axel Krug, Igor Nenadić, Udo Dannlowski, Tilo Kircher
Recurrences of depressive episodes in major depressive disorder (MDD) can be explained by the diathesis-stress model, suggesting that stressful life events (SLEs) can trigger MDD episodes in individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities. However, the longitudinal neurobiological impact of SLEs on gray matter volume (GMV) in MDD and its interaction with early-life adversity remains unresolved. In 754 participants aged 18-65 years (362 MDD patients; 392 healthy controls; HCs), we assessed longitudinal associations between SLEs (Life Events Questionnaire) and whole-brain GMV changes (3 Tesla MRI) during a 2-year interval, using voxel-based morphometry in SPM12/CAT12...
March 29, 2024: Molecular Psychiatry