Study M466

Study name

Bradley KA 2018

Title

Elevated striatal gamma-aminobutyric acid in youth with major depressive disorder

Overall design

The aim of this study was to examine gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the striatum in the adolescent population. Thirty-six youth, including 20 with depression (depression group) and 16 healthy controls (control group), ages 12 to 21 years old, underwent Jedited proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) whereby GABA levels were measured in striatal and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) voxels. GABA levels were compared between groups and between voxel positions and were examined in relation to clinical symptomatology, such as depression severity, anhedonia, anxiety, and suicidality. The final GABA and Glx (glutamate and glutamine) levels were expressed as ratios (GABA/W or Glx/W) of the peak neurometabolite area relative to the area of the unsuppressed voxel tissue water signal (W).

Study Type

Type1;

Data available

Unavailable

Organism

Human;

Categories of depression

Depressive disorder; Pediatric depression; Pediatric depression;

Criteria for depression

DSM-IV-TR diagnosed MDD, CDRS-R >= 35

Sample size

36

Tissue

Central; Brain; Striatum;

Platform

MRS; MRS: 3.0 Tesla MRI system (Excite HD, General Electric);

PMID

29890194

DOI

10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.004

Citation

Bradley KA, Alonso CM, Mehra LM, et al. Elevated striatal gamma-aminobutyric acid in youth with major depressive disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018,30;86:203-10.

Metabolite

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid;