Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Structural changes during depressive episodes in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear due to participant heterogeneity, illness chronicity, and medication confounders. This study aimed to explore white matter (WM) microstructural changes in first‐episode,...

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Main Authors: Wenjie Zhang, Chan Zhang, Jinyuan Zhao, Jiajing Cui, Jinji Bai, Xuan Deng, Junjun Ji, Ting Li, Yu Wang, Kefeng Li, Yunhui Qu, Junfeng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70416
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author Wenjie Zhang
Chan Zhang
Jinyuan Zhao
Jiajing Cui
Jinji Bai
Xuan Deng
Junjun Ji
Ting Li
Yu Wang
Kefeng Li
Yunhui Qu
Junfeng Li
author_facet Wenjie Zhang
Chan Zhang
Jinyuan Zhao
Jiajing Cui
Jinji Bai
Xuan Deng
Junjun Ji
Ting Li
Yu Wang
Kefeng Li
Yunhui Qu
Junfeng Li
author_sort Wenjie Zhang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose Structural changes during depressive episodes in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear due to participant heterogeneity, illness chronicity, and medication confounders. This study aimed to explore white matter (WM) microstructural changes in first‐episode, treatment‐naïve adolescents with MDD using an integrated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) approach. Method We recruited 66 subjects, including 37 adolescents with MDD and 29 healthy controls. Two main DTI techniques, automated fiber quantification (AFQ) and tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS), were used to analyze fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD) in WM tracts. DTI measures were then correlated with the depressive symptoms evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (HAMD‐17). Findings In AFQ, MDD patients showed significant segmental differences in WM tracts compared to controls, including a negative correlation between SLF AD values and depression severity. TBSS revealed reduced FA in the cingulum, forceps minor, inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, SLF, and uncinate fasciculus in MDD. Conclusion Our integrated DTI analysis in a unique first‐episode, medication‐naïve cohort revealed microstructural changes in adolescent MDD not previously reported. These findings may provide imaging markers for early detection and enhance our understanding of depression pathology in youth.
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spelling doaj-art-c19076305e5e47feb4839aa61b6181e32025-08-20T03:05:14ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-03-01153n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70416Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS StudyWenjie Zhang0Chan Zhang1Jinyuan Zhao2Jiajing Cui3Jinji Bai4Xuan Deng5Junjun Ji6Ting Li7Yu Wang8Kefeng Li9Yunhui Qu10Junfeng Li11Department of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaDepartment of PsychiatryChangzhi Mental Health CenterChangzhiShanxiChinaFaculty of Applied SciencesMacao Polytechnic UniversityMacao SARChinaDepartment of Radiology, Yantai Yuhuangding HospitalQingdao UniversityYantaiShandongChinaDepartment of RadiologyHeping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical CollegeChangzhiShanxiChinaABSTRACT Purpose Structural changes during depressive episodes in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear due to participant heterogeneity, illness chronicity, and medication confounders. This study aimed to explore white matter (WM) microstructural changes in first‐episode, treatment‐naïve adolescents with MDD using an integrated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) approach. Method We recruited 66 subjects, including 37 adolescents with MDD and 29 healthy controls. Two main DTI techniques, automated fiber quantification (AFQ) and tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS), were used to analyze fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD) in WM tracts. DTI measures were then correlated with the depressive symptoms evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (HAMD‐17). Findings In AFQ, MDD patients showed significant segmental differences in WM tracts compared to controls, including a negative correlation between SLF AD values and depression severity. TBSS revealed reduced FA in the cingulum, forceps minor, inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, SLF, and uncinate fasciculus in MDD. Conclusion Our integrated DTI analysis in a unique first‐episode, medication‐naïve cohort revealed microstructural changes in adolescent MDD not previously reported. These findings may provide imaging markers for early detection and enhance our understanding of depression pathology in youth.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70416adolescentsautomated fiber quantificationdiffusion tensor imagingmajor depressive disordertract‐based spatial statistics
spellingShingle Wenjie Zhang
Chan Zhang
Jinyuan Zhao
Jiajing Cui
Jinji Bai
Xuan Deng
Junjun Ji
Ting Li
Yu Wang
Kefeng Li
Yunhui Qu
Junfeng Li
Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
Brain and Behavior
adolescents
automated fiber quantification
diffusion tensor imaging
major depressive disorder
tract‐based spatial statistics
title Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
title_full Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
title_fullStr Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
title_short Microstructure Abnormalities of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in First‐Episode, Treatment‐Naïve Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrated AFQ and TBSS Study
title_sort microstructure abnormalities of diffusion tensor imaging measures in first episode treatment naive adolescents with major depressive disorder an integrated afq and tbss study
topic adolescents
automated fiber quantification
diffusion tensor imaging
major depressive disorder
tract‐based spatial statistics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70416
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