Functional connectivity analysis of locus coeruleus in patients with major depressive episode

Introduction Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders (1). For better understanding of brain connectivity in MDD, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to measure the functional connectivity of the locus coeruleus (LC). The LC contributes to cognitive processes by controlling attention, decision making, and memory (2). Since depressed patients show an altered functional connectivity of various brain regions (3), we hypothesize an altered connectivity of the LC in patients with MDD compared to healthy controls.

Methods 36 patients with treatment-resistant MDD were included in our difficult-to-treat-depression registry study (NEKTOR). Furthermore, we recruited 23 healthy controls. Patients were diagnosed with MDD according to Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic (SCID) and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM IV). Severity of depression was assessed via Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The rs-fMRI data was acquired on Siemens 3 T Skyra.

Results Compared to healthy controls, patients with treatment-resistant MDD showed decreased seed-based functional connectivity of the left LC to the left cerebellum (cluster-level inference, p=0,001, FDR-corrected).

Conclusion The present study found, for the first time, a significant reduction in functional connectivity between the left LC and the ipsilateral cerebellum in patients with MDD compared with healthy controls. Our findings underline the significance of extracerebral network-alterations in unipolar depression [1] [2] [3].

Conflict of interest

HBM and RS took part in an educational event sponsored by Livanova. HF received speaker‘s honararia and served as advisor for Recordati Pharma GmbH and Janssen-Cilag GmbH. AN received lecture fees from Novartis and Merck. SB, AG, TB declare no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Maske UE, Buttery AK, Beesdo-Baum K, Riedel-Heller S, Hapke U, Busch MA. Prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV-TR major depressive disorder, self-reported diagnosed depression and current depressive symptoms among adults in Germany. J Affect Disord [Internet] 2016; 190: 167-77 Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032715303049
• 2 Sara SJ. The locus coeruleus and noradrenergic modulation of cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009; 10 (03) 211-23
• 3 Anand A, Jones SE, Lowe M, Karne H, Koirala P. Resting state functional connectivity of dorsal raphe nucleus and ventral tegmental area in medication-free young adults with major depression. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10 JAN 1-11

Publication History

Article published online:
08 November 2022