Open AccessBrain structural connectivity, anhedonia, and phenotypes of major depressive disorder: A structural equation model approach
Author(s) -
Pfarr JuliaKatharina,
Brosch Katharina,
Meller Tina,
Ringwald Kai Gustav,
Schmitt Simon,
Stein Frederike,
Meinert Susanne,
Grotegerd Dominik,
Thiel Katharina,
Lemke Hannah,
Winter Alexandra,
Waltemate Lena,
Hahn Tim,
Opel Nils,
Repple Jonathan,
Bauer Jochen,
Jansen Andreas,
Dannlowski Udo,
Krug Axel,
Kircher Tilo,
Nenadić Igor
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.25600
Subject(s) - psychology , fractional anisotropy , anhedonia , major depressive disorder , neuroticism , uncinate fasciculus , diffusion mri , cognition , neuroscience , structural equation modeling , medicine , personality , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , dopamine
Aberrant brain structural connectivity in major depressive disorder (MDD) has been repeatedly reported, yet many previous studies lack integration of different features of MDD with structural connectivity in multivariate modeling approaches. In n = 595 MDD patients, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the intercorrelations between anhedonia, anxiety, neuroticism, and cognitive control in one comprehensive model. We then separately analyzed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) connectivity measures in association with those clinical variables, and finally integrated brain connectivity associations, clinical/cognitive variables into a multivariate SEM. We first confirmed our clinical/cognitive SEM. DTI analyses (FWE‐corrected) showed a positive correlation of anhedonia with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) and forceps minor/corpus callosum, while neuroticism was negatively correlated with axial diffusivity (AD) in the left uncinate fasciculus (UF) and inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (IFOF). An extended SEM confirmed the associations of ATR FA with anhedonia and UF/IFOF AD with neuroticism impacting on cognitive control. Our findings provide evidence for a differential impact of state and trait variables of MDD on brain connectivity and cognition. The multivariate approach shows feasibility of explaining heterogeneity within MDD and tracks this to specific brain circuits, thus adding to better understanding of heterogeneity on the biological level.