Association between depression severity and amygdala reactivity during sad face viewing in depressed preschoolers: An fMRI study

Abstract Background Previous research has indicated that symptom severity and amygdala reactivity during the viewing of facial expressions of emotion are related in depression. However, it remains unclear how early in development this can be detected. Methods A sample of 11 depressed preschoolers (4...

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Published in:	Journal of affective disorders Vol. 129; no. 1; pp. 364 - 370
Main Authors:	Gaffrey, Michael S, Luby, Joan L, Belden, Andy C, Hirshberg, Jonathan S, Volsch, Jennifer, Barch, Deanna M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Elsevier B.V 01-03-2011 Elsevier
Subjects:	Adult and adolescent clinical studies Amygdala Amygdala - physiopathology Biological and medical sciences Child, Preschool Depression Depressive Disorder - physiopathology Depressive Disorder - psychology Emotions Emotions - physiology Face processing Facial Expression Facial expressions Female fMRI Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Medical sciences Mood disorders Preschool Preschool children Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Psychiatry Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry Psychopathology Psychopathology. Psychiatry Reactivity Severity Severity of Illness Index Preschool fMRI Depression Psychopathology Amygdala Face processing Human Mood disorder Preschool age Central nervous system Cognition Basal ganglion Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging Encephalon Information processing Medical imagery Severity score Face Child Amygdaloid nucleus Functional imaging
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Summary:	Abstract Background Previous research has indicated that symptom severity and amygdala reactivity during the viewing of facial expressions of emotion are related in depression. However, it remains unclear how early in development this can be detected. Methods A sample of 11 depressed preschoolers (4.5 ± 0.8; 6 males) participated in an fMRI experiment where they viewed facial expressions of emotion. A region of interest approach was used in order to examine the relationship between amygdala activation and depression severity. Additional whole-brain analyses were conducted and the results of these analyses were examined for potential relationships with depression severity. Results Findings indicated that depressed preschoolers exhibited a significant positive relationship between depression severity and right amygdala activity when viewing facial expressions of negative affect. In addition, we found a significant positive relationship between degree of functional activation in the occipital cortex while viewing faces and level of depression severity. Limitations Additional research including a larger sample of depressed preschoolers, as well as a healthy comparison group, is needed to replicate the current findings and examine their specificity at this age. Conclusions This is the first study directly examining brain function in depressed preschoolers. The results suggest that, similar to older children and adults with depression, amygdala responsivity and degree of depression severity are related as early as age 3.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0165-0327 1573-2517
DOI:	10.1016/j.jad.2010.08.031