{"title":"Interoceptive Neural Circuits Mediating the Progression from Somatic Diseases to Comorbid Depression.","authors":"Hongliang Zhou,Chenguang Jiang,Wenhao Jiang,Zhenhe Zhou,Yonggui Yuan","doi":"10.1159/000547584","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"INTRODUCTION\r\nSomatic diseases comorbid with depression exacerbate the health burden. The interoceptive neural circuit (INC) might mediate brain-body connections. We aimed to assess the causal relationship between somatic diseases, the INC, and depression.\r\n\r\nMETHODS\r\nWe conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine the following: 1) the causal effect of four categories of systemic somatic diseases (ulcerative colitis, essential hypertension, chronic pain, and type 2 diabetes) on the INC's morphology; 2) the causal effect of INC morphology on depression; and 3) the INC's mediating role between somatic diseases and depression. A replication analysis confirmed the results above in other GWAS datasets. An extended analysis further validated the predictive role of the INC for depression in another systemic disease (asthma).\r\n\r\nRESULTS\r\nWe found all four systemic somatic diseases resulted in morphological changes in the INC, with shared reduced left ventral diencephalon (L-VDC). The morphological alterations of the INC increased depression risk, with the bilateral ventral thalamus most impacted. The L-VDC volume mediated the relationship between somatic diseases and depression, a finding validated across different datasets. The mediating role of the L-VDC in the relationship between somatic diseases and depression remains present in asthma.\r\n\r\nCONCLUSION\r\nThe INC, particularly the L-VDC, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of depression and the intersection of somatic diseases. The INC mediates the progression from somatic diseases to comorbid depression, suggesting that interventions targeting the INC may prevent and alleviate the burden of comorbid somatic diseases and depression.","PeriodicalId":20744,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics","volume":"13 1","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":17.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547584","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Somatic diseases comorbid with depression exacerbate the health burden. The interoceptive neural circuit (INC) might mediate brain-body connections. We aimed to assess the causal relationship between somatic diseases, the INC, and depression.
METHODS
We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine the following: 1) the causal effect of four categories of systemic somatic diseases (ulcerative colitis, essential hypertension, chronic pain, and type 2 diabetes) on the INC's morphology; 2) the causal effect of INC morphology on depression; and 3) the INC's mediating role between somatic diseases and depression. A replication analysis confirmed the results above in other GWAS datasets. An extended analysis further validated the predictive role of the INC for depression in another systemic disease (asthma).
RESULTS
We found all four systemic somatic diseases resulted in morphological changes in the INC, with shared reduced left ventral diencephalon (L-VDC). The morphological alterations of the INC increased depression risk, with the bilateral ventral thalamus most impacted. The L-VDC volume mediated the relationship between somatic diseases and depression, a finding validated across different datasets. The mediating role of the L-VDC in the relationship between somatic diseases and depression remains present in asthma.
CONCLUSION
The INC, particularly the L-VDC, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of depression and the intersection of somatic diseases. The INC mediates the progression from somatic diseases to comorbid depression, suggesting that interventions targeting the INC may prevent and alleviate the burden of comorbid somatic diseases and depression.
期刊介绍:
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics is a reputable journal that has been published since 1953. Over the years, it has gained recognition for its independence, originality, and methodological rigor. The journal has been at the forefront of research in psychosomatic medicine, psychotherapy research, and psychopharmacology, and has contributed to the development of new lines of research in these areas. It is now ranked among the world's most cited journals in the field.
As the official journal of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine and the World Federation for Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics serves as a platform for discussing current and controversial issues and showcasing innovations in assessment and treatment. It offers a unique forum for cutting-edge thinking at the intersection of medical and behavioral sciences, catering to both practicing clinicians and researchers.
The journal is indexed in various databases and platforms such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, BIOSIS Previews, Google Scholar, Academic Search, and Health Research Premium Collection, among others.