A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay

Abstract Predicting disease trajectories in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can allow designing personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to show that measuring patients’ plasticity – that is the susceptibility to modify the mental state – identifies at baseline who...

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Main Authors: Claudia Delli Colli, Aurelia Viglione, Silvia Poggini, Francesca Cirulli, Flavia Chiarotti, Alessandro Giuliani, Igor Branchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-01-01
Series:Translational Psychiatry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03246-1
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author Claudia Delli Colli
Aurelia Viglione
Silvia Poggini
Francesca Cirulli
Flavia Chiarotti
Alessandro Giuliani
Igor Branchi
author_facet Claudia Delli Colli
Aurelia Viglione
Silvia Poggini
Francesca Cirulli
Flavia Chiarotti
Alessandro Giuliani
Igor Branchi
author_sort Claudia Delli Colli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Predicting disease trajectories in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can allow designing personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to show that measuring patients’ plasticity – that is the susceptibility to modify the mental state – identifies at baseline who will recover, anticipating the time to transition to wellbeing. We conducted a secondary analysis in two randomized clinical trials, STAR*D and CO-MED. Symptom severity was assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology while the context was measured at enrollment with the Quality-of-Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Patients were retrospectively grouped based on both their time to response or remission and their plasticity levels at baseline assessed through a network-based mathematical approach that operationalizes plasticity as the inverse of the symptom network connectivity strength. The results show that plasticity levels at baseline anticipate time to response and time to remission. Connectivity strength among symptoms is significantly lower – and thus plasticity higher – in patients experiencing a fast recovery. When the interplay between plasticity and context is considered, plasticity levels are predictive of disease trajectories only in subjects experiencing a favorable context, confirming that plasticity magnifies the influence of the context on mood. In conclusion, the assessment of plasticity levels at baseline holds promise for predicting MDD trajectories, potentially informing the design of personalized treatments and interventions. The combination of high plasticity and the experience of a favorable context emerges as critical to achieve recovery.
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spelling doaj-art-b309e2cbdaaf4aaea55330bf44a2dde92025-02-02T12:43:29ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882025-01-011511710.1038/s41398-025-03246-1A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplayClaudia Delli Colli0Aurelia Viglione1Silvia Poggini2Francesca Cirulli3Flavia Chiarotti4Alessandro Giuliani5Igor Branchi6Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàCenter for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàCenter for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàCenter for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàCenter for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàEnvironment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di SanitàCenter for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di SanitàAbstract Predicting disease trajectories in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can allow designing personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to show that measuring patients’ plasticity – that is the susceptibility to modify the mental state – identifies at baseline who will recover, anticipating the time to transition to wellbeing. We conducted a secondary analysis in two randomized clinical trials, STAR*D and CO-MED. Symptom severity was assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology while the context was measured at enrollment with the Quality-of-Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Patients were retrospectively grouped based on both their time to response or remission and their plasticity levels at baseline assessed through a network-based mathematical approach that operationalizes plasticity as the inverse of the symptom network connectivity strength. The results show that plasticity levels at baseline anticipate time to response and time to remission. Connectivity strength among symptoms is significantly lower – and thus plasticity higher – in patients experiencing a fast recovery. When the interplay between plasticity and context is considered, plasticity levels are predictive of disease trajectories only in subjects experiencing a favorable context, confirming that plasticity magnifies the influence of the context on mood. In conclusion, the assessment of plasticity levels at baseline holds promise for predicting MDD trajectories, potentially informing the design of personalized treatments and interventions. The combination of high plasticity and the experience of a favorable context emerges as critical to achieve recovery.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03246-1
spellingShingle Claudia Delli Colli
Aurelia Viglione
Silvia Poggini
Francesca Cirulli
Flavia Chiarotti
Alessandro Giuliani
Igor Branchi
A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
Translational Psychiatry
title A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
title_full A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
title_fullStr A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
title_full_unstemmed A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
title_short A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
title_sort network based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03246-1
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