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White Matter Microstructure Associated With the Antidepressant Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Review of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies Publisher Pubmed



Cattarinussi G1, 2 ; Moghaddam HS3 ; Aarabi MH1, 2 ; Squarcina L4 ; Sambataro F1, 2 ; Brambilla P4, 5 ; Delvecchio G5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padua, 35128, Italy
  2. 2. Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, 35128, Italy
  3. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13185/1741, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, 20122, Italy
  5. 5. Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, 20122, Italy

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences Published:2022


Abstract

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a severe disorder characterized by high relapse rates and decreased quality of life. An effective strategy in the management of TRD is deep brain stimulation (DBS), a technique consisting of the implantation of electrodes that receive a stimulation via a pacemaker-like stimulator into specific brain areas, detected through neuroimaging investigations, which include the subgenual cingulate cortex (sgCC), basal ganglia, and forebrain bundles. In this context, to improve our understanding of the mechanism underlying the antidepressant effects of DBS in TRD, we collected the results of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies exploring how WM microstructure is associated with the therapeutic effects of DBS in TRD. A search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 11 investigations assessing WM microstructure in responders and non-responders to DBS. Altered WM microstructure, particularly in the sgCC, medial forebrain bundle, cingulum bundle, forceps minor, and uncinate fasciculus, was associated with the antidepressant effect of DBS in TRD. Overall, the results show that DBS targeting selective brain regions, including the sgCC, forebrain bundle, cingulum bundle, rectus gyrus, anterior limb of the internal capsule, forceps minor, and uncinate fasciculus, seem to be effective for the treatment of TRD. © 2022 by the authors.