Local connections enhancement as a neuroprotective strategy against depression recurrence: Insights from structural brain network analysis

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of psychiatric research Pub Date : 2025-03-26 DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.03.052

Yang Li , Hu Xu , Bo Chen , Yi Ding , Yunqian Zhu , Yang Wang , Xingbing Chen , Hui Su

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Depression recurrence significantly impacts patients' well-being and presents a major clinical challenge. Identifying the risk of recurrence during remission could enable early intervention and prevent disease progression.

Methods

This study included 115 patients in remission from their first depressive episode and 47 healthy controls (HCs). Participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neuropsychological assessments, and follow-up evaluations every three months over a two-year period. Structural brain networks were constructed using deterministic fiber tracking and graph theory analysis.

Results

Non-recurrence patients exhibited significantly higher baseline local connections compared to the recurrence group (t = 8.148; P < 0.001), which emerged as a robust negative predictor of recurrence (AUC = 0.853 [95 % CI: 0.774–0.912]; OR = 0.594 [95 % CI: 0.489–0.722]; P < 0.001). Rich-club connections were inversely correlated with depression severity (r = −0.510; P < 0.001) and duration (r = −0.221; P = 0.018). Additionally, increases in local connections during remission correlated positively with subsequent rich-club connections (r = 0.540; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Elevated local connections during remission after the first depressive episode significantly reduce the risk of recurrence. This suggests a compensatory neuroprotective mechanism, where enhanced local connections stabilize rich-club connections, thereby maintaining the integrity of the whole-brain network. These findings highlight local connections as a critical factor in preventing depression recurrence and as a potential target for early clinical intervention.

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来源期刊

Journal of psychiatric research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

2.10%

发文量

622

审稿时长

130 days

期刊介绍： Founded in 1961 to report on the latest work in psychiatry and cognate disciplines, the Journal of Psychiatric Research is dedicated to innovative and timely studies of four important areas of research: (1) clinical studies of all disciplines relating to psychiatric illness, as well as normal human behaviour, including biochemical, physiological, genetic, environmental, social, psychological and epidemiological factors; (2) basic studies pertaining to psychiatry in such fields as neuropsychopharmacology, neuroendocrinology, electrophysiology, genetics, experimental psychology and epidemiology; (3) the growing application of clinical laboratory techniques in psychiatry, including imagery and spectroscopy of the brain, molecular biology and computer sciences;